South Korea’s national judo team is intensifying preparations at the Jincheon National Training Center ahead of the upcoming international multisport competition, aiming to rebound from a challenging performance at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, according to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and media reports from the training site.
Rebuilding Momentum After Hangzhou Setbacks
At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023, the South Korean judo team secured a historic low of just one gold medal, won by Kim Ha-yun in the women’s over-78kg division, alongside several minor medals. Judo officials and coaching staff attributed the dip in performance to growing pains associated with a major generational transition within the squad, replacing veteran competitors with younger talent.
Men’s national team coach Hwang Hee-tae told reporters at the training center that the squad’s younger athletes have matured significantly since the Hangzhou games. According to Hwang, competitors who experienced their first major international multisport event during the previous cycle have since developed into world-class contenders, setting the stage for a stronger showing in the upcoming tournament.
Key Medal Contenders and Weight Division Goals
The South Korean judo delegation plans to contest all 14 individual weight classes as well as the mixed team event, targeting a total of four gold medals—split evenly with two in the men’s categories and two in the women’s divisions, as outlined by team leadership. Leading the men’s medal hopefuls are Lee Joon-hwan in the 81kg division and Kim Min-jong in the over-100kg category. Lee captured a silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games, while Kim secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and a bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
On the women’s side, Heo Mi-mi competes as a primary gold medal favorite in the 57kg division, flanked by Lee Hyun-ji in the over-78kg category. Heo claimed a silver medal at the world championships and a bronze in the mixed team event at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-ji secured her spot on the national roster by surpassing defending champion Kim Ha-yun, emerging as a top-tier prospect after winning the world junior championship title during her studies at Namnyeong High School.
Notable Narratives and Veteran Breakthroughs
Beyond the established medal favorites, the squad features distinctive athlete storylines heading into the competition. Additionally, 31-year-old Kim Hye-mi (70kg) earned her first-ever selection to a major international multisport team after securing first place in both rounds of the national selection trials, defying conventional athletic age curves to secure her breakthrough appearance.
The judo competitions for the upcoming regional games are scheduled to take place at the Aichi International Arena, where the South Korean squad will look to translate their Jincheon training camp intensity into podium finishes on the international stage.
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