“I’m 66 and the youngest on the team. Most of the others are in their 70s and 80s, yet we moved in perfect sync,” said Choi Eun-gyu. “Even watching the video again, you can tell how well we performed.”
An Incheon squad formed by the Ganghwa Mani Taiji Association and the Nonhyeon-dong Community Welfare Center’s wushu (Taijiquan) club captured the team crown in Taijiquan at the 2026 National Sports for All Festival. (Incheon Ilbo, April 24, page 13: 'Health Protected by Taijiquan, Now Incheon's Pride')
The team posted a 9.230 in the 16-form Taijiquan (64 and older) on April 25 at the Namhae Indoor Gymnasium in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, edging out second-place Gyeonggi’s I Love Taichi (9.220) to claim the top spot.
Judges praised Incheon for near-flawless technique, tight synchronization and unshakable team cohesion.
The title was the product of 19 members coming together under the guidance of Kim Seong-ik, director of the Ganghwa Mani Taiji Association.
Choi Eun-gyu—who took up Taijiquan six years ago at the urging of her older sister, Choi Seong-gyu, head of the Nonhyeon-dong wushu club—said the gold belonged to Kim’s leadership and the team’s relentless effort. “Despite their age, members trained tirelessly for the national meet. Some who were under the weather even took vitamin injections to stay in practice. When the win was confirmed, we hugged and cried,” she said.
The Sports for All Festival is an annual showcase where amateur athletes from across the country gather to display the skills they’ve honed. The event is held each year in the city that hosted the previous year’s National Youth Sports Festival.
/By Jongman Lee, Reporter malema@incheonilbo.com
