WUXI, China (Dec. 7, 2024) - The Wuxi 2024 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Challenge got underway today with thrilling contests which saw China and Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) claim the four gold medals on offer. 

 

The opening day featured competitions in the men’s -68kg and +80kg and women’s-49kg and -67kg with the remaining weight categories taking place tomorrow. Athletes battled it out in a single elimination, best of three rounds format  as they looked to win gold and silver to secure their place in the 2026 WT Grand Slam Champions Series. 

 

In the men’s -68kg, AIN Ilia Danilov won gold, defeating Zaid Alhalawani in the final. Woo-Hyeok Jung of Korea won bronze.

 

AIN Rafail Aiukaev won gold in the men’s +80kg, as Uzbekistan’s Shukhrat Salaev settled for silver. Spain’s Sergio Troitino Amoedo won bronze. 

 

On the women’s side of the event, China took gold in the -49kg as Jingyue Ma beat her compatriot Shiyi Wang in the final. It was a clean sweep of medals for China in the category as Sai Yang won bronze. 

 

In the women’s -67kg, AIN Liliia Khuzina defeated Korea’s Min-Ju Kwak to win gold while Min-Seo Nam of Korea won bronze.

 

All gold medallists received 6,000USD in prize money with silver medallists receiving 3,000USD and bronze taking home 1,000USD.

 

Tomorrow the competition will conclude with the men’s -58kg and -80kg and the women’s -57kg and +67kg.