The 2026 WT (World Taekwondo) President’s Cup Oceania and Australian Open Taekwondo Championships were held on the Gold Coast in Australia, where Macau taekwondist Lao I Ieng clinched one gold and two bronzes, according to an online report by Macau Sports Weekly on Sunday.
Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art and Olympic sport. Its name translates from Korean as “the way of the foot and fist” (Tae meaning foot/leg, Kwon meaning fist/hand, and Do meaning the way or path).
Between last Thursday and Friday, Lao competed in two women’s poomsae* categories at the WT President’s Cup Oceania. She secured a bronze medal in the Women’s Individual Free Poomsae O17 category and placed fifth in the Women’s Individual Recognised Poomsae U30 category.
On Saturday and Sunday at the Australian Open Taekwondo Championships, Lao claimed a gold medal in the Women’s Individual Recognised Poomsae U30 category, adding another bronze to her tally in the Women’s Individual Free Poomsae O17 category.
*In Taekwondo, Poomsae translates directly to “form” or “pattern.” It is a defined sequence of defensive and offensive movements performed against an imaginary array of attackers. Rather than free-form fighting, it is a highly structured, meditative practice designed to perfect technique, balance, breath control, and focus. – Gemini
Macau taekwondist Lao I Ieng (second from left) poses with the MSAR flag during the award ceremony of the Australian Open Taekwondo Championships in Australia’s Gold Coast city last week. – Photo courtesy of Macau Sports Weekly
