Nuku’alofa-born taekwondo athlete Hamish Chimanlal has won gold at the 2026 Kimunyong Cup in South Korea, marking his first international competition representing Tonga.

Chimanlal claimed the title in the Senior Male 2 Knife-Hand Breaking division at the tournament in Seoul last month.

The 7th Kimunyong Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships was held from July 25 to 28 and included competition in disciplines such as sparring, poomsae and breaking.

For Chimanlal, who is now studying and training in Auckland, the victory was also a chance to carry the Tongan flag onto an international stage.

“Lots of people ask me, ‘What flag is that that you’re holding? I’ve never seen it before,’” he said. “So, it was a good feeling to bring Tonga to such a diverse event.”

The University of Auckland student said his interest in taekwondo began when he was seven, after watching other children train and being reminded of the martial arts films he enjoyed as a child.

His Seoul trip brought a second achievement: the completion of an International Taekwondo Master Course.

The Tonga National Taekwondo Association congratulated Chimanlal on his gold medal, describing the achievement as the result of his dedication and hard work.

Chimanlal is now looking towards further international competition, including a possible bid to represent Tonga at next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti.

He is also working to improve his sparring, the Olympic discipline of taekwondo, while continuing to compete in the martial arts and breaking events.

He is studying towards a Bachelor of Science in exercise and sport science and hopes eventually to work in rehabilitation or continue his studies towards physiotherapy.