The inaugural Nairobi 2025 World Taekwondo Under-21 Championships officially concluded with the Closing Ceremony at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, where awards were presented to recognise outstanding achievements throughout the competition.
The landmark event provided a vital new competitive platform for athletes transitioning from junior to senior level competition, with medals awarded across 16 weight categories over four days.
Türkiye topped the women’s team standings, with Korea finishing second and Morocco third. In the men’s competition, Iran claimed first place in the team standings, ahead of Türkiye in second and Kazakhstan in third.
World Taekwondo President Dr Chungwon Choue was joined at the Closing Ceremony by officials including World Taekwondo Secretary General Jeongkang Seo, World Taekwondo Vice-President Driss El Hilali, World Taekwondo Council members Maher Magableh, Jay Warrick and World Taekwondo Athletes’ Commission Co-Chair and IOC Athletes’ Commission Member Cheick Sallah Cissé, and African Taekwondo Union President Ide Issaka.
The Closing Ceremony featured individual and team awards, which were presented as follows:
• Most Valuable Player Men – Mr Abolfazl Zandi (Iran, M -58kg Champion)
• Most Valuable Player Women – Ms Milana Bekulova (AIN, W -49kg Champion)
• Women Team Standings (1st-5th) – Türkiye, Korea, Morocco, Iran, Greece
• Men Team Standings (1st-5th) – Iran, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Korea
• Active Participation Award – Kenya
• Good Fighting Spirit Award – India
• Best Team Coach Men – Mr Majid Aflaki (Iran)
• Best Team Coach Women – Mr Suat Hasturk (Türkiye)
• Best Referee Men – Mr Yohannes Bogale Sima (Ethiopia)
• Best Referee Women – Ms Dania Gonzalez Cancino (Chile)
The second edition of the World Taekwondo Under 21 Championships is set to take place in Samokov, Bulgaria in 2027.
