Lee Ye Chan moved up two weight classes and shocked his opponents in the South Korean National Championships

The first national event in South Korea was held in the city of Cheongyang in the County’s Gymnasium where the middle school, high school and elite boxers could attend. The hero of the event was Lee Ye Chan who defeated the stars of the bantamweight (56kg) and he is near to compete in the upcoming Asian Games following his triumphs.
The South Koreans used the competition as selection tournament for later actions for the elite, youth and junior boxers as well. Junior and youth boxers also could show their skills in the South Korean event as high school and middle school age groups.
The South Korean team claimed one bronze medal in the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships which was a big success for the country. Their Kazakh coach former Olympic Games bronze medallist Mr. Bolat Niyazymbetov was a big impact in South Korea’s boxing life in 2017 and their team achieved medals in each major competitions.
The South Korean boxers attended in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok and some of their boxers could qualify for the Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The South Korean elite boxers have been preparing to the Asian Games which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in August and the country is planning to get gold medal there.
Among the women youth boxers Lee Ye Na was able to beat a more experienced rival Kim Ah Hyeon in the final of the middleweight (75kg) and the 16-year-old boxer proved her strong talent. The first elite woman gold medal was achieved by 20-year-old Lee Hyun Ji at the lightweight (60kg) with top performance. The second title among the women elite boxers was claimed by 25-year-old Park Byeol which was her first big national success.
The men elite boxers also could attend in the national event and the bantamweight (56kg) delivered the main sensation of the whole competition. Lee Ye Chan, who attended previously at the light flyweight (49kg) in the international stages, moved up two categories and defeated Asian Games winner Ham Sang Myeong and China Open Tournament winner Kim Ju Seong in the final days of the competition.
There are big rivalry between Choi Hae Ju and Hyeon Dong Ju at the lightweight (60kg) and the two tope boxers advanced also once again to the final. Choi, who was national member in 2017, did enough in the final and defeated his strong rival in a narrow contest. The gold medal of the men’s elite light welterweight (64kg) was captured by international boxer Lim Hyun Suk who defeated Park Won Bin in the final.
Lim Hyun Chul claimed silver medal in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games and following he moved up to the welterweight (69kg) he has been shining once again after a few poor years. The 23-year-old boxer was too quick for Lee Seung Hyun in the dream final of the national event and Lim is now near to attend at the Asian Games.
Kim Jin Jae is a young 22-year-old boxer at the middleweight (75kg) who landed strong combinations in the final when he met with Hong In Ki. Kim Do Hyun and Song Hwa Pyeong are South Korea’s best super heavyweight (+91kg) boxers and their final was the next repeat match between the two giants. Kim, who qualified for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships, was slightly better than Song in the final and won the last title.

List of the winners in the South Korean National Championships
Women’s Youth 51kg: Jeon Yu Jeong
Women’s Youth 60kg: Shin Ki Eun
Women’s Youth 75kg: Lee Ye Na
Women’s Elite 60kg: Lee Hyun Ji
Women’s Elite 75kg: Park Byeol
Men’s High School 46kg: Ryu Dong Hyung
Men’s High School 49kg: Kim Tae Hyun
Men’s High School 52kg: Park Ji Hwan
Men’s High School 56kg: Kim Hyun Jae
Men’s High School 60kg: Song Kwon Hoe
Men’s High School 64kg: Lee Ki Yun
Men’s High School 69kg: Hong Dae Han
Men’s High School 75kg: Son Hyeong Min
Men’s High School 81kg: Park Jung Soo
Men’s High School 91kg: Park Jae Woo
Men’s Elite 52kg: No Chon Wook
Men’s Elite 56kg: Lee Ye Chan
Men’s Elite 60kg: Choi Hae Ju
Men’s Elite 64kg: Lim Hyun Suk
Men’s Elite 69kg: Lim Hyun Chul
Men’s Elite 75kg: Kim Jin Jae
Men’s Elite 81kg: Lee Joo Jo
Men’s Elite 91kg: Moon Tae Kyun
Men’s Elite +91kg: Kim Do Hyun

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