(LEAD) (Asiad) S. Korea's Song Da-bin wins gold in women's taekwondo at Asian Games

On Saturday at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, South Korea's Song Da-bin claimed the gold medal in women's taekwondo's heaviest weight class, giving the nation its first taekwondo gold at the ongoing competition. The final took place at Toyohashi Gymnasium, located 85 kilometers southeast of Nagoya.

Song Da-bin faced off against China's Mu Wenzhe in a closely contested match, ultimately winning 2-1. This victory marked South Korea's first taekwondo gold in the kyorugi, or sparring, event at the Asian Games in Japan. Prior to this, South Korea secured two gold medals in the poomsae event, where athletes showcase taekwondo patterns and sequences, on Thursday.

Song Da-bin's journey to the gold was a triumphant one, as she did not drop a round en route to the final. In the first round, she secured a win with a score of 4-2. However, she faced a setback in the second round, losing 10-4 to Mu Wenzhe due to a series of body and head kicks. In the decisive third and final round, Song Da-bin led 6-2 with just 50 seconds remaining, ultimately sealing the victory with a body kick at 8-5.