TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Wang Chieh-ling (王婕菱) claimed gold at her first World Junior Taekwondo Championships Friday (Oct. 4), securing the nation's first gold in this year's competition.

Wang defeated South Korea's Suin Shin in the women's 44 kg finals, while bronze went to China's Li Si-yong. This year's junior championships were held in Chuncheon, South Korea, per World Taekwondo.

In her first match, Wang defeated Parnian Saki from Iran despite Saki being a strong contender for the gold medal. Her coach, Chu Chien-an (朱建安) , encouraged her to treat every match like a final, per CNA.

An Amis Indigenous athlete, Wang started taekwondo in the third grade but struggled initially. Under Chu's guidance, she trained rigorously, traveling between Tainan and Nantou on weekends.

Wang went on to win a bronze medal at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships in Sarajevo in 2023 and a gold medal at the National Middle School Athletic Games this year.

Wang's gold medal victory this year was very emotional for her coach, Chu. He said it was the best result he had ever seen from an athlete he coached.

Inspired by Lo Chiah-ling's (羅嘉翎) Olympic bronze medal, Wang dreams of competing in the Olympics one day. 

Lo, 19 at the time, won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She was unable to medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a foot injury.