The South Korean national judo team has set out on a journey to restore its pride.

Having arrived yesterday (September 27) in the host city of Nagoya, the South Korean judo team will begin its quest for gold medals starting the day after tomorrow through October 3 at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

Led by Head Coach Jung Sung-sook and men's team coach Hwang Hee-tae, South Korea has set a target of winning at least three gold medals at this tournament.

On September 30, the opening day of the judo events, Lee Ha-rim (Yangpyeong County Office) in the men's under-60kg division, Kim Chan-nyung (High1) in the men's under-66kg division, Jung Soo-jin (Yongin University) in the women's under-48kg division, and Jang Se-yoon (KH Group) in the women's under-52kg division will compete.

The most anticipated athlete of the day is Lee Ha-rim.

He is a lightweight standout who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games and a silver medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. At the Hangzhou Games, he narrowly missed out on the gold medal after losing to Chinese Taipei's Yang Yung-wei.

At the time, Lee had suffered three consecutive defeats against Yang and shed tears after losing their fourth encounter as well.

Yang Yung-wei will also be competing in this tournament.


On October 1, Ahn Jae-hong (Namyangju City Hall) in the men's under-73kg division, Lee Joon-hwan (Pohang City Hall) in the men's under-81kg division, Huh Mi-mi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council) in the women's under-57kg division, Kim Ji-su (Gyeongbuk Sports Council) in the women's under-63kg division, and Kim Hye-mi (Gwangju Transportation Corporation) in the women's under-70kg division will step onto the tatami.

Lee Joon-hwan in the men's division and Huh Mi-mi in the women's division are cited as top contenders for the gold medal.

Lee won the Asian Championships for two consecutive years and claimed three straight bronze medals at the World Championships from 2023 until last year.

He also captured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Huh Mi-mi underwent surgery for a shoulder injury following the Paris Olympics silver medal, but she continues to maintain top-tier performance even after her recovery.

Kim Ji-su is also considered a dark horse.

Both Huh Mi-mi and Kim Ji-su are zainichi Koreans (ethnic Koreans residing in Japan), making this tournament held in Japan even more meaningful for them.

On October 2, Kim Jong-hoon (Yangpyeong County Office) in the men's under-90kg division, Han Joo-yup (High1) in the men's under-100kg division, Kim Min-jong (Yangpyeong County Office) in the men's over-100kg division, Kim Min-joo (Gwangju Transportation Corporation) in the women's under-78kg division, and Lee Hyun-ji (Yongin University) in the women's over-78kg division will compete.


Men's and women's heaviest-weight competitors Kim Min-jong and Lee Hyun-ji are favored for gold.

Kim Min-jong carries memories of shedding tears after narrowly winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, which was his first Asian Games stage.

The Paris Olympics silver medalist is aiming for gold in his second Asian Games.

Lee Hyun-ji is a formidable rookie who dominated the junior circuit during her days at Namnyeong High School and has been sweeping gold medals at every competition she enters on the senior circuit as well.

She secured her ticket to the Games by defeating Kim Ha-yun (Ansan City Hall), the domestic powerhouse in this weight class and gold medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games, during the national team trials.

The mixed team event will take place on October 3.

Kim Ha-yun will participate as a member of the mixed team squad.

As this tournament is held right ahead of the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Championships (scheduled for October 4 – 11), many of Japan's key athletes are sitting out.

However, vigilance is required as there is little performance gap between Japan's first- and second-string athletes.

South Korean judo has prepared thoroughly for this competition.

The team recruited Japanese coach Miki Tanaka to conduct meticulous microscopic analysis and also received assistance from "KIS-ZIAS," an artificial intelligence match analysis system independently developed by the Korea Institute of Sport Science.

Having harvested a record-low single gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, South Korean judo is fully ready to seek a recovery of its pride.
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)