Virtual taekwondo heads to Asian Games as Singapore representative prepares for debut
It may look like a video game, but competing in virtual taekwondo is tougher than it seems, says Singapore's Darren Yap.
Virtual taekwondo is set to make its debut at the Asian Games in October, with Singapore's Darren Yap preparing for his first appearance in the mixed-gender event. Unlike conventional taekwondo, the virtual version involves athletes competing against each other using avatars in a virtual arena, rather than physically touching their opponents.
This requires a different approach to gauging distance and adapting to the equipment and technology. For Yap, an experienced taekwondo practitioner since the age of four, transitioning to virtual taekwondo has been both challenging and exciting, as it offers an opportunity to introduce the sport to a wider audience in Singapore.
The 16 athletes competing in the knockout tournament will face each other in a 4m by 4m space over three rounds, with each round lasting 60 seconds. Successful strikes deplete the opponent's virtual health bar, and successful techniques cannot be directly transferred from traditional taekwondo.
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