"I competed in the 78kg class, moving up a weight division since it wasn't my usual class. Starting from the quarterfinals, the opponents looked so huge. I made it to the final, but it didn't work out in the end. Next time, I will come back bigger!"

Stepping into the mixed zone after finishing the women's 78kg kurash final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Japan today (the 28th), Mo Su-min (20, Korea National Sport University) beamed with determination and relief rather than disappointment.

It was the bold spirit characteristic of a 20-year-old who proudly claimed a silver medal against giants weighing nearly 10 kilograms more than her.

Mo, a judo athlete at Korea National Sport University, originally competed in the 70kg division.

However, as the 70kg category was not featured in the kurash events at this Asian Games, she took on the challenge in the 78kg class, one weight class higher.

The women's kurash events at this tournament feature only three weight divisions: the 57kg, 78kg, and over-87kg classes.

Competing at her usual body weight, Mo essentially faced heavier opponents from a higher weight class.

"They said there was only the 78kg division at the Asian Games, so I moved up and entered. I played it as a challenge and it was quite fun," Mo said with a bright smile. "I sometimes thought that if I had built up my weight just a bit more, I might have won, but a silver medal is also a deeply satisfying achievement."

The physical limitations stemming from the weight difference were undeniable.

In the final, Pokizakhon Kamoldinova of Uzbekistan, representing the sport's birthplace, pressured Mo using overwhelming physique and power.

Mo expressed astonishment, saying, "The strength of the player I met in the final was truly overwhelming. No matter how much I tried to defend, it was useless."

She first connected with kurash, an unfamiliar traditional martial art from Uzbekistan, thanks to a suggestion from her coach.

Kurash excludes ground techniques from judo, resulting in more dynamic and thrilling matches.

Mo explained, "Professor Hong Seung-han at Korea National Sport University recommended kurash. Following the professor's advice, I ended up participating in the selection trials and competing in the tournament."

Having achieved a valuable silver medal at an international multi-sport event while balancing judo and kurash, Mo mapped out an ambitious blueprint to catch two rabbits at once.

"I think I will continue walking this interesting path by doing both sports together," she emphasized firmly. "At the same time, I want to reach the peak as a judo athlete. My dream is to definitely stand on the Olympic stage and become a world-class player ranked in the top 20 globally."

When asked what is most needed to become such an athlete, she gave an honest and lively response typical of a 20-year-old.

"First of all, I think I need to listen to my professor a bit better. Since I usually don't listen well and get scolded from time to time, I should use this tournament as an opportunity to listen better," she said with a giggle.

She hinted, "The professor usually scolds me by telling me to 'have more confidence and work harder.'"

Adorning her first-ever Asian Games with silver, Mo's sights were already set on the next stage.

Mo stated, "If I can compete in the Asian Games again next time, I want to aim unconditionally for the gold medal. I will keep taking on challenges—the Olympics through judo and the Asian Games through kurash."

(Photo: Yonhap News)