Kazakhstan wins virtual taekwondo medal at Asian Games

Rita Bakisheva. Photo: Kazakhstan WT Taekwondo Federation

Tengrinews.kz - Kazakh athlete Rita Bakisheva won a bronze medal in virtual taekwondo at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan. The discipline was included in the Asian Games program for the first time.

How Kazakhstan won the medal

Bakisheva began her campaign in the round of 16, defeating Jordan’s Mohammad Al-Adarbi.

In the quarterfinals, the Kazakh athlete defeated India’s Kashish Malik to advance to the semifinals.

For a place in the final, Bakisheva faced the Philippines’ Jus Gabriel Derick Yape. The match ended 0:2 in favor of her opponent. As a result, Rita Bakisheva won a bronze medal at the Asian Games.

View this post on Instagram

A publication from KTF (@qaz.tkd)

What is virtual taekwondo

Virtual taekwondo is making its Asian Games debut. Athletes compete using VR technology: special sensors track their movements and transfer them into a virtual environment.

The competitors do not make direct physical contact with each other.

Bakisheva therefore became one of the first medalists in the new discipline in Asian Games history.

Kazakhstan currently ranks ninth in the medal standings at the 2026 Asian Games, with 9 gold, 19 silver and 37 bronze medals.

The 20th Asian Games will continue through October 4. Kazakhstan’s national team includes 558 athletes competing for medals in 35 sports.