Panaji: In a proud moment for Goa and Indian martial arts, Grandmaster Angela De Abreu Naik has been selected as an International Referee for the G2 Australia Open and G3 WT President Cup & Oceania Poomsae Championship, two of the most prestigious international Taekwondo tournaments scheduled to be held in Gold Coast, Australia, from June 17 to 22, 2026.
An International Referee since 2009, Angela Naik has officiated at numerous World and Asian Championships organised by World Taekwondo and was part of the referee selection process for the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Angela holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman Grandmaster to receive an 8th Dan Black Belt from Kukkiwon, the highest governing body for Taekwondo. She is also India’s first WT International Referee Class 1 in both Kyorugi (sparring) and Poomsae (forms).
An accomplished athlete and official, Angela is an International Gold Medallist and was inducted into the International Taekwondo Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 in Croatia.
Grandmaster Angela De Abreu Naik boasts an illustrious career spanning multiple martial arts disciplines. She is an 8th Dan Black Belt from Kukkiwon in Taekwondo and a 7th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido Korea. She is India’s first WT International Referee Class 1 in both Taekwondo disciplines — Kyorugi and Poomsae — and also serves as a World B Ju-jitsu Referee and an International Referee Hapkido Class 3. An International Master Instructor with WTA and an International Gold Medallist, Angela has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to sports with Goa’s prestigious Jivbadada Kerkar State Sports Award.
Her selection for the international championships is being seen as another milestone in her illustrious career and a significant achievement for Goa’s sporting community, further strengthening India’s presence in the global Taekwondo arena.
