Highlights of the ASBC National Federations – South Korea won all of the 12 gold medals in the 1986 Asian Games

The Asian Boxing Confederation introduces the best moments of its affiliated Asian National Federations launching a new PR campaign, the Highlights of the ASBC National Federations. South Korea claimed 59 gold medals in the boxing tournament of the Asian Games and the country is still the No.1 in that overall medal table. Their most remarkable performance was the 1986 Asian Games when South Korea won all of the 12 boxing gold medals.

South Korea achieved three gold, seven silver and ten bronze medals in the history of the boxing events of the Olympic Games. Their first Olympic title was achieved by Shin Joon Sup at the middleweight (75kg) in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. Kim Kwang Sun and Park Si Hun were their next gold medallist at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.

South Korea topped the medal rankings in 1962, in 1966, in 1970, in 1974, in 1978, in 1982 and their boxers continued their hegemony in Seoul four years later. South Korea won all of the gold medals in the boxing tournament of the 1986 Asian Games which is the current record of the event. South Korea received the right to host the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in 1981 therefore their incredible dominancy in 1986 was part of their long term strategy.

The 1986 edition of the boxing tournament of the Asian Games was held in Seoul, South Korea from September 25 until October 4. That event is the No.1 competition of the history of South Korea’s boxing life. The South Koreans have done a remarkable performance in 1986, their boxers won all of the 12 gold medals in Seoul.

The first gold medal of the boxing tournament of the 1986 Asian Games was achieved by a 21-year-old South Korean, Oh Kwang Soo at the light flyweight (48kg). He claimed bronze medal in the Reno 1986 AIBA World Boxing Championships before the Asian Games where he controlled his final against Thailand’s Supap Boonrawd which ended with RSC success. 

Kim Kwang Sun was 22-year-old by the time of the 1986 Asian Games which he won with his top performance in the final of the flyweight (51kg) against India’s Sahu Birajdor. Kim attacked successfully and knocked out his Indian rival in the final which was his first big international triumph. Kim Kwang Sun became Olympic Champion in Seoul two years later.

South Korea’s another star Moon Sung Kil was well-known as a great knockout puncher who won 164 contests by KO out of his 219 victories during his amateur career. The South Korean boxer defended his throne in Seoul following his first triumph at the Delhi 1982 Asian Games. Moon, who was AIBA World Champion in 1986, dominated his bantamweight (54kg) final against Thailand’s Sophon Sujarikul in Seoul.

The South Koreans achieved a few medals in the recent years at the AIBA events and the country is trying to come back to the top level of boxing. Oh Yeon Ji who claimed bronze at the New Delhi 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, Im Ae Ji took gold at the Guwahati 2017 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships and Kim In Kyu at the Hamburg 2017 AIBA Men’s Elite World Boxing Championships.

Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/
ASBC Twitter page: https://www.twitter.com/BoxingAsian?s=08