The South Korean national judo team has failed to secure a medal in the mixed team event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

On the final day of the sport today (the 3rd), the national team lost 2-4 to Uzbekistan in the mixed team bronze medal match held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

Earlier in the day, South Korea defeated China 4-1 in the quarterfinals, but dropped to the bronze medal match after losing 3-4 to Kazakhstan in the semifinals, ultimately falling short in the medal playoff as well.

With this result, South Korea wrapped up its judo campaign at this tournament with one gold, three silver, and four bronze medals.

This marks the second time that South Korean judo has finished an Asian Games with one or fewer gold medals, following the 2022 Hangzhou Games (one gold, two silver, and six bronze medals).

The national team had originally set a target of four gold medals for this tournament, but finished with disappointing results.

Lee Eun-gyeol, competing as the first runner in the men's 73kg division, fell behind 0-1 after conceding a waza-ari-equivalent score via a counter-attack to Shahram Ahadov with 22 seconds left in the match.

In the second match of the women's 70kg division, Kim Hye-mi picked up three shido penalties and suffered a defeat by hansoku-make (disqualification) against Shirinjon Yuldosheva.

South Korea pulled one point back in the third match of the men's 90kg division, where Kim Jong-hoon defeated Arslonbek Tojiev with a half-point (waza-ari) using a foot sweep (sasae-tsurikomi-ashi).

Then, in the fourth match of the women's over-70kg division, Lee Hyun-ji (Yongin University) leveled the score at 2-2 by subduing Irishon Kurbanbaeva with a half-point hip throw (koshi-guruma) and a half-point hold-down (kesa-gatame).

However, Kim Min-jong (Yangpyeong County Office), competing in the men's over-90kg division, fell behind 2-3 after suffering an ippon defeat via a counter-attack against Muzaffarbek Turoboyev, who won the individual men's heavyweight title.

In the sixth match, South Korea deployed Heo Mi-mi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council), the South Korean delegation's sole gold medalist, in the women's 57kg division to eye a comeback, but conceded a waza-ari in extra time to Shukurjon Aminova, bringing the match to an end.

The national team coaching staff protested strongly, but the decision was not overturned.

(Photo: Yonhap News)