Jang Se-yun, who has emerged as a rising star in South Korean women's judo, has claimed a valuable silver medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Jang took home the silver medal after losing by disqualification to Sita Kadamboeva of Uzbekistan in the women's 52kg judo final held today (the 30th) at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

Ranked 41st in the world, Jang defeated a series of tough opponents to capture the South Korean judo team's first medal of the competition.

From her very first match to the semifinals, Jang reached the final stage by displaying dazzling skills and relentless competitive spirit.

Facing Sabira Khozomberdieva of Kyrgyzstan in the round of 16, Jang secured a clean ippon victory just 16 seconds into the match to advance to the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals against China's Xiao Yu, she engaged in a fierce battle throughout regulation time. Although she was at risk of a disqualification with two shidos (penalties) each, she successfully executed a decisive technique with 46 seconds remaining in regulation to claim another ippon victory.

In the South Korea-Japan showdown in the semifinals against Kokoro Fujishiro, who was backed by one-sided support from the home crowd, both athletes accumulated two shidos through the end of regulation. In the subsequent golden score overtime, Jang sustained her attacks, forcing her opponent into a third penalty for a false attack, thereby drawing a third shido to secure a victory by disqualification and a ticket to the final.

(Photo: Yonhap News)