Taiwan Karate Team Kicks Toward Asian Games Gold

Taiwan's karate team is preparing for the 2026 Asian Games. Competing as Team Chinese Taipei, 10 local athletes will take part in two events in Japan, kumite, meaning sparring, and kata, meaning sequence routines. At the last games in Hangzhou, China in 2023, the team secured two medals, one gold and one silver. This time around, Taiwan is eyeing a bigger haul, with those high hopes falling on 30-year-old Gu Cuiping, who will be competing in her third Asian Games. Gu is not the only athlete returning to the Games with unfinished business. At the last Games, Shi Zhenzong reached the semi-finals, but ultimately fell short of the podium. This time, he's returning with more experience. As for the athletes competing in kata, the head coach says they have a good chance of making it to the podium. With the squad's sights set on the top of the podium, they are ready to kick their Asian Games campaign into high gear. Devin Tsai, Sandy Chee, and Leslie Liao for Taiwan Plus.