TMSA Taekwondo Team Dominates 2026 National Capitol Open with 14 Medal Wins
Apex, North Carolina — The TMSA Taekwondo Club delivered a resounding victory at the 2026 National Capitol Open Taekwondo Championship, held in Virginia on April 24–25, securing an impressive haul of 14 medals.
This standout performance featured 14 student-athletes competing across elementary, middle, and high school divisions, capturing 6 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals. The achievement underscores the club’s structured youth development program and its strategic focus on long-term training.
Unmatched Conversion Rate Demonstrates Program Strength
The one-to-one ratio of participants to medalists highlights the program’s consistency, especially among young athletes with approximately three years of foundational training. Observers praised the disciplined, mature performances displayed by competitors well beyond their years, pointing to a deeply ingrained coaching framework.
Grand Master Hyo Joo Lee, the event organizer, lauded TMSA’s unique role as the first high school team to compete in the event and awarded the club a large trophy and special recognition, signaling a growing pathway for school-based martial arts teams to engage at elevated competition levels.
Medal Winners Showcase Depth Across Age Groups
Gold medals were secured by a range of younger athletes, including A. Marikanti (1st Grade), Y. Senthilkumar (6th Grade), Z. Keskin (5th Grade), S. Aramadaka (3rd Grade), Z. Panchal (3rd Grade), and S. Gandhi (5th Grade). Silver medalists like N. Uyar (8th Grade) and high school team members A. Sarka and Arov demonstrated the club’s competitive strength extending into older divisions. Bronze medals rounded out the team’s podium presence with M. Keskin (5th Grade), H. Thati (6th Grade), and S. Aramadaka (6th Grade).
Community and Institutional Support Fuel Success
The championship also revealed the vital role of family engagement, with ten of the 14 athlete competitors accompanied by family members providing strong support throughout the two-day event in Virginia. Such involvement fosters a united and celebratory team environment.
Additionally, TMSA formally recognized the critical contributions from school leadership and staff, including Principal Alden of TMSA Triangle High School and Principal Yuksekkaya of TMSA Apex, alongside numerous staff members, reinforcing a close alignment between academics and extracurricular development.
“We are incredibly proud of our students—not only for their medals but for their discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship,” said Coach Bastug. “This accomplishment marks an important milestone for our program and sets a strong foundation for future success.”
Looking Ahead: Growth and National Impact
The TMSA Taekwondo Club’s national medal haul at the 2026 National Capitol Open cements its rising profile in regional and national martial arts circuits. With a proven training model and expanding participation across age groups, the club is poised to continue delivering elite performances.
For youth sports programs nationwide, this success highlights the importance of sustained investment in skill development, community backing, and institutional coordination to build formidable pipelines of young athletic talent.
