Judoka Huh Mimi Advances to Final, Secures Silver Medal

Huh Mimi (Gyeongsangbuk-do Sports Council), the leading star of the South Korean women's judo national team, has successfully advanced to the final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Huh secured at least a silver medal by defeating Shukurjon Aminova of Uzbekistan via default in the semifinals of the women's 57kg division held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on October 1.

She created an advantageous situation 3 minutes and 8 seconds before the end of the match when Aminova received a shido (penalty), and subsequently applied pressure using various techniques such as left-armed seoi-nage (shoulder throw).

Although it did not lead to points, it was effective in seizing control of the match.

Huh and Aminova traded a shido each with 1 minute and 45 seconds remaining, and advanced to the final via default win when Aminova received her third shido 30 seconds before the end of the match.

Aminova committed a prohibited act by bending Huh's arm while attempting a throwing technique.

Huh is a leading figure in South Korean women's judo who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

A second-generation Korean resident in Japan born to a Korean father and a Japanese mother, Huh chose South Korean citizenship in 2021 in accordance with the dying wish of her grandmother, who wanted to see her compete as a South Korean athlete.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, she drew attention after it was revealed that she is a fifth-generation descendant of the independence activist Huh Seok.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, she resolved to memorize the South Korean national anthem, win a gold medal, and sing along on the podium, but she settled for a silver medal after a controversial decision loss to Christa Deguchi of Canada in the women's 57kg final.

Ahead of this tournament, she expressed a determined resolve, saying, "I definitely want to win a gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and take it to my grandmother's gravestone," adding, "I will sing the national anthem that I memorized to sing at the Paris Olympics at this tournament."

This is the first time Huh has competed in an individual event at the Asian Games.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.