Malaysia's Yong Jin Kun is predicting an intriguing competition when poomsae taekwondo makes its Asian Games debut in Jakarta and Palembang ©Getty Images

Malaysia's Yong Jin Kun is predicting an intriguing competition when poomsae taekwondo makes its Asian Games debut in Jakarta and Palembang next year.

Yong said he was "excited" for the 2018 Asian Games in the Indonesian cities, the first edition of the Games to feature poomsae.

The Asian Championships team bronze medallist believes the event will be wide open and is hoping his team can claim a medal at the Games.

"Obviously, I am very excited that poomsae will be included for a first time at the Asian Games," Yong told the New Straits Times.

"But at the moment it is hard to realistically gauge our chances for a number of reasons.

"The Asian Games will use a new format using new styles which are more dynamic and contemporary."

Poomsae is a non-sparring event where individuals or teams perform a
Poomsae is a non-sparring event where individuals or teams perform a "sequence of movements arranged in a meaningful order in response to attacks from multiple imaginary assailants". ©ETU

He added: "There will also be a freestyle poomsae category.

"We have heard that some countries have a different set of exponents for these disciplines, so we are expecting some different faces than we are used to in traditional poomsae.

"Regardless, we will keep training hard and learn this new format. 

"Obviously, we will do our best to try and win a medal."

Currently not on the Olympic programme, poomsae is a non-sparring event where individuals or teams perform a "sequence of movements arranged in a meaningful order in response to attacks from multiple imaginary assailants". 

Yong hopes he will get a better gauge of his potential opponents during the Asian Championships in Vietnam in May.