Ankit Mer Wins Historic Silver at U21 World Taekwondo Championships

Indian taekwondo witnessed a landmark moment as Ankit Mer capped a sensational campaign with a silver medal in the men’s 54 kg category at the U21 World Taekwondo Championships.

Entering the tournament as the 16th seed, Ankit produced one upset after another, advancing all the way to the final and recording one of the most impactful performances by an Indian athlete at a global taekwondo championship. At just 19, Ankit’s run was defined by composure, tactical clarity, and the ability to rise to big moments against far more established opponents. Although he finished second after losing the final to Moataz Bellah Asem of Egypt, the silver medal marked a massive breakthrough for Indian taekwondo and underlined Ankit Mer’s arrival on the world stage.

Giant-Killing Path to the Final

Ankit’s tournament began with a confident showing in the Round of 32, where he defeated a Turkish opponent to move into the business end of the competition. From there, the challenge level rose sharply, but so did Ankit’s performances.

The defining moment of his campaign came in the Round of 16, where he stunned Senior World Champion Seo Eun-Su of South Korea. In a high-intensity bout, Ankit won 2–1, producing a dramatic comeback in the decider. Trailing 8–9, he showed remarkable calm under pressure, scoring three unanswered points to close the match 11–9. The victory sent shockwaves through the draw and immediately established Ankit as a genuine medal contender.

Building on that momentum, Ankit faced Spain’s Javier Otero in the quarter-finals. He controlled the bout with tactical discipline and superior timing, winning 2–0 (3–1, 8–1) to progress. The result not only secured his place in the semi-finals but also guaranteed India a historic medal at the U21 World Championships.

In the semi-finals, Ankit came up against Hristiyan Georgiev of Bulgaria, a senior World Championships quarterfinalist. The Indian produced one of his most composed displays of the tournament, winning 2–0 (8–0, 0–0). His defensive positioning and counter-attacking precision neutralised Georgiev completely, allowing Ankit to dictate the rhythm of the contest.

The semi-final victory confirmed Ankit’s place in the final and reinforced the scale of his achievement. Over the course of the tournament, he had defeated the top seed, the fourth seed, the ninth seed, and a senior world champion, an extraordinary list for any athlete at this level.

The Final and a Silver to Treasure

In the final, Ankit faced Moataz Bellah Asem of Egypt, the second seed. Despite his best efforts, Ankit fell short, losing 0–2 (0–0, 8–15). The Egyptian’s experience and timing proved decisive, particularly in the second round.

While the final did not go India’s way, it did little to diminish the scale of Ankit’s tournament. Reaching the final as the 16th seed and finishing with a silver medal remains one of the strongest performances by an Indian athlete in U21 world taekwondo competition.

Ankit Mer’s silver medal is significant not only for the colour of the podium finish but for what it represents. Defeating a senior world champion at a global event highlights the growing competitiveness of Indian taekwondo athletes against traditional powerhouses like South Korea and European nations. His campaign showcased tactical maturity, physical conditioning, and above all, mental resilience. Time and again, Ankit responded to pressure with intelligent decision-making, whether it was the late comeback against Seo Eun-Su or the controlled performances in the knockout rounds.

For Indian taekwondo, Ankit Mer’s silver is another marker of progress at the international level. It reflects the improving talent pipeline and the growing belief that Indian athletes can compete with the very best on the world stage.

Though he fell just short of gold, Ankit leaves the U21 World Championships with his reputation firmly established. His performance in this tournament is likely to be remembered as a turning point not just in his career, but in the broader journey of Indian taekwondo.