The 2025 U15 World School Sport Games Taekwondo team has returned in triumph to Taiwan. Hsinchu County athlete Chao Tzu-ching arrived at the national airport last night (April 15th), where Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke, along with coaches, teammates, and family supporters, warmly welcomed her. They celebrated Chao’s gold medal achievement in her first international competition. A surprise appearance by Chen Shih-hsin, the 2004 Athens Olympic taekwondo gold medalist, was arranged to give her further encouragement. Chao choked up with emotion and said, “Thank you to everyone who supported me; I will continue to work hard!"
Chao Tzu-ching, who is Saisiyat Indigenous from Hsinchu County, is only 13 years old. She has long been a key training athlete for the Hsinchu County Sports Association Taekwondo Committee, and has repeatedly gotten excellent results for Hsinchu County at national competitions. Once she began attending Zhudong Junior High School, she joined their athletic classes to continue improving her technique and physical fitness. This year, she has represented the Chinese Taipei team at the 2025 U15 World School Sport Games held in Serbia. She won the gold medal in the women’s 37kg taekwondo category, bringing glory to Taiwan!
When the U15 World School Sport Games Taekwondo team members returned home last night, Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke, Zhudong Township Mayor Kuo Yuan-chang, Wufeng Township Mayor Chiu Wei-shu, Hsinchu County Sports Association Taekwondo Committee Chairman Liu Kui-hsiung, and Zhudong Junior High School Principal Liao Hsueh-hua led more than 40 teachers, students, coaches, teammates, and family supporters holding red banners and posters to welcome Chao home. When she saw the grand welcome, Chao smiled brightly at first, but then burst into tears when she saw her parents and grandmother rushing to embrace her. The scene was warm and touching.
Magistrate Yang personally presented Chao Tzu-ching with her favorite lollipops and a Pi-pi Lion plush toy. He stated that, despite her small stature, Chao had remained very calm when facing taller opponents; she used her sharp gaze to spot their weaknesses and defeat them in a single movement, which is no small task. He thanked the coaches for nurturing her from elementary through junior high school, and also thanked the teachers and parents for taking good care of her and allowing her to compete without worry. The specially-arranged moment where a “gold medalist meets a gold medalist, passing the baton”, in which Athens Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Chen Shih-hsin met Chao at the plane, was particularly meaningful, encouraging the rising star to continue her efforts. The County Government also awarded prize money to this outstanding athlete and her coaches, in hopes that they will achieve even greater results in the future.
Chao Tzu-ching said, “Thank you to everyone who has supported me, and also to those who looked down on me, because it is because of them that I can keep working hard. The training process has been difficult, but effort brings results. Whether in international or national competitions, I will continue to strive upward and win more gold medals!”
Zhudong Junior High School coaches Huang Yan-hao and Hsueh Chao-hsuan have accompanied Chao Tzu-ching throughout her journey to international competition. Huang stated that Chao performed very well at this U15 World School Sport Games, successfully applying what she had learned in her training. This was not only her first time on the international stage, but also her first trip abroad; it was natural to feel nervous without trusted coaches by her side, but they maintained contact via the Line social media app. Having won this award as a youth category national team member, Chao is now aiming for the national team in the junior category.
Athens Olympic gold medalist Chen Shih-hsin smiled as she noted that in the past, she was always the one being welcomed at the airport; this was her first time welcoming someone else. She stated that she hopes it gives the young athlete strength to forge ahead. Watching the live broadcast, she saw Chao display the competitive drive of Indigenous people as she showed what all her hard work and efforts had built up. This medal symbolizes Chao’s dedication over the years, and Chen hopes Chao will continue to pursue excellence. With many competitive athletes being affected by sports injuries, there is still a long road ahead before Chao enters university and becomes an Olympic national team member. Chen reminded Chao to always protect herself while making these international achievements, and expressed hope that one day Chao might even break Chen’s own record!