Phnom penh: The Cambodia WT taekwondo team emerged victorious at the Hope International Open Taekwondo Championship 2026, earning an impressive total of 698 medals. This haul included 228 gold, 195 silver, and 275 bronze medals, the most garnered among the six participating nations. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, during the closing ceremony held at the Buyong Hall of the National Olympic Stadium on January 11, Mr. Choi Yongsok, the South Korean Coach of the Cambodian National WT Taekwondo team, expressed satisfaction with the results. He announced plans to expand the scale of the event in the coming years, enhancing its impact and reach. The championship, organized by the Cambodian Taekwondo Federation in collaboration with Taekwondo Academy and Kukkiwon Cambodia, took place in Phnom Penh from January 9 to 11. The event attracted 560 athletes from Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, as reported by the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC). Myanmar secured second place with a total of 41 medals, comprising 15 gold, 8 silver, and 18 bronze medals. Vietnam followed with 3 medals, including 2 gold and 1 silver. Singapore earned 2 medals, with 1 gold and 1 silver, while Malaysia took home 1 gold medal. South Korea concluded the championship with 2 bronze medals. The event aimed to enhance the skills of grassroots youth, ranging from ages 5 to over 18, in preparation for the Asian Youth Games set to be hosted by Cambodia in 2029, along with other international sports events, as stated by NOCC.