South Korea’s stars as Oh Yeon Ji and Kim In Kyu are on the top in their Final National Selection Tournament

The South Korean National Selection Tournament was held in Chungnam where all of the country’s top boxers attended in the competition. The event was the most important one in South Korea which became the final selection for the upcoming Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event.

The women boxers attended in five weight classes at the 51kg, 57kg, 60kg, 69kg, and 75kg which will be the official categories in the Qualification Event. The men athletes competed for eight titles in Chungnam and all of the winners have been selected to the Qualifiers. Mr. Olim Mukhamedov of Uzbekistan supports the South Korean coaches since June 2019 and with him on the board the team will be even stronger in the Qualifiers.

The first female title of the event Jeong Ju Hyeong which was a surprise at the flyweight (51kg). The 28-year-old boxer is not the most experienced one but she defeated Kim Min Jeong in the final while AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Bak Cho Rong achieved only bronze in Chungnam.

Im Ae Ji delivered a surprise gold medal at the Guwahati 2017 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships and she claimed the second title of the South Korean National Selection Tournament. Im will be turning to 21 later this year and in the final of the featherweight (57kg) she was too smart for former AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist veteran Shim Hee Jung.

Two-time ASBC Asian Champion Oh Yeon Ji is a top lightweight (60kg) boxer who earned bronze medal at the New Delhi 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The Asian Games winner Oh controlled all of her contests in the national event and defeated Gwon Su Jin in the title bout.

Choi Su Yeon is a 32-year-old boxer who moved down to the welterweight (69kg) to achieve her main goal in the event. Choi defeated Park Ji Min in the final of the fourth women’s weight class while the last title was achieved by Seong Soo Yeon who has done a surprise success over ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships silver medallist Seon Su Jin at the women’’ middleweight (75kg).

Kim In Kyu was the biggest name at the men’s flyweight (52kg) who claimed bronze medal at the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. Kim eliminated AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Jo Se Hyeong in the semi-finals and he was too quick also for Kang Dong Heon in the final.

Ham Sang Myeong was one of the main surprises at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games where he became a star at the age of 19 becoming champion. Following a few poor years and unexpected losses, Ham returned in top shape and defeated Lee Min Seong in the final of the bantamweight (57kg) while experienced boxers as Kim Won Ho and Lee Ye Chan earned only bronze medals in Chungnam.

Lee Jong Seung is already 29 and he was not the main favourite at the lightweight (63kg) but he captured the gold medal in a fantastic final against national team member Kang Hyeon Bin. Asian Games silver medallist Lim Hyun Chul is also member of the national elite team since 2014 as Ham Sang Myeong and the welterweight (69kg) boxer remained on the top following his success over Lee Sang Min.

Thailand Open International Tournament silver medallist Kim Jin Jae was involved to the elite national team two years ago and controlled the final of the middleweight (75kg) against Kim Jung Woo. Hong In Gi represented South Korea in the main events at the light heavyweight (81kg) last year and that supported him to beat Yang Hee Guen and Yoon Joo Ho in the national event.

Kim Hyeong Kyu claimed his first continental title in 2011 at the Incheon ASBC Asian Boxing Championships and repeated that gold medal in 2019 therefore his success at the heavyweight (91kg) was expected. Song Hwa Pyeong had a big target to regain his place in the top national team and he succeeded against veteran Kim Do Hyeon at the super heavyweight (+91kg).

List of the winners in the South Korean National Selection Tournament
Women’s 51kg: Jeong Ju Hyeong
Women’s 57kg: Im Ae Ji
Women’s 60kg: Oh Yeon Ji
Women’s 69kg: Choi Su Yeon
Women’s 75kg: Seong Soo Yeon
Men’s 52kg: Kim In Kyu
Men’s 57kg: Ham Sang Myeong
Men’s 63kg: Lee Jong Seung
Men’s 69kg: Lim Hyun Chul
Men’s 75kg: Kim Jin Jae
Men’s 81kg: Hong In Gi
Men’s 91kg: Kim Hyeong Kyu
Men’s +91kg: Song Hwa Pyeong

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