Liu You-yun Wins Silver at Asian Taekwondo Championships; Coach Praises Tactical Execution

According to the Central News Agency, Taiwanese female taekwondo athlete Liu You-yun won a silver medal today in the 49kg category final at the Asian Championships held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after losing 0-2 to South Korea's Kim Hyang-gi. Coach Su Tai-yuan stated, "Although she lost, her overall tactical execution was very bold, and I affirm her performance." The 19-year-old Liu You-yun gained attention after winning gold at last year's World Taekwondo Championships and also won the National University Games this year, entering the Asian Championships in top form. World No. 2 Liu You-yun advanced to the final after a 2-1 comeback victory over China's Fu Xiaolu in the semifinals, despite losing the first round. Facing World No. 8 Kim Hyang-gi in the final, the first round was a stalemate, ending 1-1, but the opponent was awarded the win based on better attack points. At the start of the second round, Liu You-yun took a 3-0 lead with a head kick and maintained the lead for almost the entire round. With 15 seconds left, she was leading 6-2, but the opponent scored consecutive mid-section points, and Liu was penalized, allowing Kim Hyang-gi to stage a comeback. Coach Su Tai-yuan told the Central News Agency, "You-yun is easily distracted by external factors during matches. She felt the opponent was grabbing her and kicking her in the groin multiple times, but the referee didn't call fouls, which affected her mood." Su emphasized, "Although she is young, to become a top player, she shouldn't let these situations affect her." He mentioned that the semifinal was crucial, as she had lost to Fu Xiaolu by a large margin at the Belgian Grand Prix a few months ago, so the comeback was significant, making the final loss a pity. However, Su still highly praised his student, saying, "Since winning gold at the World Championships, she has been under a lot of pressure. But in this match, she executed the pre-set tactics well, especially in the second round where she dominated. It's just that the outcome of a match is unpredictable." Su pointed out that the 49kg category is an Asian Games weight class, so all countries sent their best, making it very difficult. They plan to participate in at least two international tournaments before the Asian Games to earn points and secure a better seed.