Shin Jong Hoon returned with a title in the South Korean National Qualification Tournament

DSC_0474 - The Korean Team

The South Korean National Qualification Tournament was held in the Cheongyang Gymnasium in Chungnam which was the country’s first big event in 2017. The winners of the national event will have the chance to represent South Korea in the upcoming ASBC continental events in 2017. Their top boxer Shin Jong Hoon returned to the ring and won the light flyweight (49kg) in the selection event in Chungnam.
The ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships will be held in Tashkent where South Korea will be sending maximum number of ten male boxers. The South Korean National Qualification Tournament was also held for the elite ladies and the winners will have to chance to represent the country at the 2017 ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Vietnam.
Nam Eun Jin is member of the South Korean women’s team since 2008 and the experienced boxer was able to win the first gold medal of the National Selection Tournament. The 26-year-old flyweight (51kg) boxer won against Lee Lim Yeong by unanimous decision and secured her next national title in Chungnam.
South Korea’s female No.1 ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Oh Yeon Ji is their best female elite boxer who was near also to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The 27-year-old lightweight (60kg) boxer was too strong for Ko Hyeon Yeong in the gold medal bout of the second Olympic weight category.
Seong Su Yeon competed in two editions of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships since 2010 and had to meet with her main national rival Kim Shin Hyeong in the final of the women’s middleweight (75kg) in Chungnam. Seong found the best fighting distance in time and she was able to win their close bout by 4-1 in the national event which was their re-match after last year’s selection event.
AIBA World Boxing Championships silver and bronze medallist Shin Jong Hoon could not qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which was a big surprise at the light flyweight (49kg). The 28-year-old boxer continued his career and demonstrated his technique against another national squad member Lee Ye Chan in the final while An Seong Ho achieved only bronze medal in the selection event.
Former Asian Games competitor Kim Ju Seong moved up to the bantamweight (56kg) but his height advantage was enough to beat defeated Kim Hae Jin in the semi-final and China Open Tournament silver medallist experienced Choe Sang Don in the final of the event. Choi Hae Ju was involved to the national team in 2015 and showed his great development against Hyeon Dong Ju in the final of the men’s lightweight (60kg) while Kim Jin Taek claimed only bronze medal in Chungnam.
South Korea’s top light welterweight (64kg) boxer Lee Jong Seung will be turning to 27 this year and his experiences were enough to beat his final opponent Im Hyeon Seog. Tammer Tournament bronze medallist Lee Seung Hyeon stopped Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Lim Hyun Chul in the semi-final and the 22-year-old welterweight (69kg) boxer continued his winning path against Lee Dong Jin in the final of the category.
There is a great rivalry between veteran Kim Do Hyeon and Song Hwa Pyeong at the super heavyweight (+91kg) in South Korea and the two boxers met each other in the national selection event once again. Kim is eight years older than his opponent and used his strong jabs to stop Song’s attacks which delivered for him a close triumph in Chungnam.

List of the winners in the South Korean National Qualification Tournament
South Korea Women’s 51kg: Nam Eun Jin
South Korea Women’s 60kg: Oh Yeon Ji
South Korea Women’s 75kg: Seong Su Yeon
South Korea Men’s 49kg: Shin Jong Hoon
South Korea Men’s 56kg: Kim Ju Seong
South Korea Men’s 60kg: Choi Hae Ju
South Korea Men’s 64kg: Lee Jong Seung
South Korea Men’s 69kg: Lee Seung Hyeon
South Korea Men’s +91kg: Kim Do Hyeon