China’s Luo Zongshi celebrates after winning the women's under-57kg title ©World Taekwondo

China’s Luo Zongshi and South Korea's Park Woo-hyeok claimed the respective women’s under-57-kilogram and men’s under-80kg titles to ensure a double victory for Asia on the opening day of the World Taekwondo Championships here.

It was no surprise that Luo emerged victories at the Centro Acuático CODE Metropolitano in Guadalajara as she backed up her sensational World Taekwondo Grand Prix form to become world champion.

Lo Chia-ling of Chinese Taipei was Luo’s opponent in the final, but the top seed kept her composure to secure a 2-0 victory in the new best-of-three format.

The men’s final provided an unexpected contest between Park and Spain’s Jon Cintado Arteche with the pair seeded 13th and 15th respectively.

But while the top seeds tumbled, Park and Cintado Arteche seized their opportunity to reach the gold-medal match.

Park was staring down the barrel at defeat as he lost the first round and trailed 7-2 in the second against Iranian Mehran Barkhordari - another surprise semi-finalist.

But the South Korean responded in sensational style, reeling off 12 unanswered points to level the match before winning the decider to make the final.

South Korea's Park Woo-hyeok produced a flurry of impressive kicks as he went on to secure the men's under-80kg gold ©World Taekwondo
South Korea's Park Woo-hyeok produced a flurry of impressive kicks as he went on to secure the men's under-80kg gold ©World Taekwondo

Cintado Arteche also came from behind to defeat third seed Seif Eissa of Egypt and secure a showdown with Park.

Two punches to the chest gave Park the first round of the final before making a flying start to the second, winning the opening five points.

Two gamjeons gave Cintado Arteche hope before a spinning kick to the head by Park proved to be the decisive move.

The bronze medals went to Barkhordari and Eissa.

Luo also faced her toughest test in the semi-final as she lost the first round to Britain’s double Olympic champion Jade Jones.

But the Asian Games gold-medallist, who has won three World Taekwondo Grand Prix titles this year, turned the match around to seal a place in the final.

Lo also was taken to a decider as she edged Olympic bronze medalist Hatice Kübra İlgün of Turkey in the last four.

There was little between Luo and Lo in the gold-medal match but the top seed managed to do enough to keep her nose in front in the scoring.

Luo won the first round 2-1 before taking the next by superiority as she captured the title.

The bronze medals were awarded to Jones and İlgün.

Competition continues tomorrow.