Toyohashi:South Korea's Song Da-bin clinched the gold medal in the women's +67-kilogram taekwondo event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking the country's first taekwondo gold at this year's competition.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Song triumphed over China's Mu Wenzhe with a score of 2-1 in the final match held at Toyohashi Gymnasium, located approximately 85 kilometers southeast of Nagoya. This victory represents South Korea's first gold in the "kyorugi" or sparring event at these Asian Games, following two golds in the poomsae event earlier in the competition.

Song Da-bin's achievement makes her the first South Korean to win gold in the women's +67kg event since Lee Da-bin's victory in 2018. She reached the final without losing a round, securing the first round 4-2, but losing the second 10-4 due to a series of kicks from her opponent. In the decisive third round, Song took a 6-2 lead with 50 seconds left. Although Mu Wenzhe narrowed the gap with a head kick, Song confirmed her victory at 8-5 with a body kick.

Expressing her joy, Song said, "This is my happiest moment in my athletic career." Despite starting her gold medal journey later than many of her peers in a country known for taekwondo, Song has steadily risen to prominence. She earned her first gold medal as a high school student and has since won gold at the 2025 Summer World University Games and a recent Grand Prix event.

Reflecting on her progress, Song stated, "I think I'm still growing. I achieved this not through my talent, but through my effort. I'll do my best and work harder with the Los Angeles Olympics in mind."