Virtual taekwondo debuted at the Asian Games, marking a significant inclusion of digital sport in major athletic events. Taekwondo officials described virtual taekwondo as a blend of "real-world martial arts meets cutting-edge virtual technology."
Competitors participating in the sport utilise a VR headset alongside motion tracking technology. Matches typically consist of three rounds, with each round lasting approximately sixty seconds.
Darren Yap secured a bronze medal in the virtual taekwondo competition. Yap stated, "It was fun playing out there. I had zero expectations."
Furthermore, Yap noted that participants can observe metrics such as their health bar, the opponent's character, and limb movements. The governing body World Taekwondo has publicly endorsed virtual taekwondo, calling it "groundbreaking."
The first world championships for the discipline are scheduled for 2024 in Singapore. A key feature of virtual taekwondo is its capacity to let men and women compete together in a mixed category, removing weight class restrictions.
Yap added that the format "allows more people to participate in the sport, and I think it's cool that women are able to beat men." Previously, virtual taekwondo appeared at the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023.
Chau pointed out one benefit, stating, "One advantage is that you don't have to worry about the difference in weight." Conversely, Chau mentioned a drawback, noting, "But one disadvantage is that men and women can have differences in physical strength, and men may tend to be stronger."
