Young talents shined in the South Korean National Championships

DSC_0474 - The Korean Team

The South Korean National Championships was held in the Boryeong General Gymnasium in Chungnam which was the country’s second big national event after their selection tournament in 2017. Their young hopes who are already achieved strong international results such as Lee Suk Yeong, Kim Won Ho, Ham Sang Myeong and Kim Jin Nyong proved they could be stars in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic era.
The ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships was held in Tashkent where South Korea sent maximum number of ten male boxers and the country claimed medals and quota places for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. Kim In Kyu and Lee Dong Yun advanced to the final in Tashkent and both achieved silver medals in the Uzbek capital.
AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Lee Suk Yeong is a young South Korean woman talent who controlled all of her contests in the National Championships. The 19-year-old flyweight (51kg) talent advanced to the final of the national event where she was too strong for Kim Min Jeong.
The women’s lightweight (60kg) is always strong in South Korea, their AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships competitor 20-year-old Park Ji Hye could be the next tough athlete after ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Oh Yeon Ji. The young Park had to do her very best to beat Ko Hyeong Young in the final of the event which she won by tight 3:2.
ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Seong Su Yeon had to meet in the final of the women’s middleweight (75kg) with her old rival Kim Shin Hyung. The final verdict was unanimous decision to 25-year-old Seong Su Yeon who claimed her next national title.
In the men’s student level 20-year-old Kim Won Ho proved top performance and following his experiences in the international level he was able to win the student’s flyweight (52kg) in Chungnam. He competed in the 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok therefore his title was not a surprise in the event.
Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner 22-year-old Ham Sang Myeong did not receive the right to box in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Tashkent but his efforts were enough to win his contests in Chungnam. Kim Chang Yeop was bronze medallist in their National Selection Tournament in March but this time he was able to defeat a star athlete, Asian Games silver medallist Lim Hyun Chul in the final.
AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 21-year-old Kim Jin Nyong competed in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and following that he joined to the elite age group. Kim competed at the university level in the National Championships and secured his title at the super heavyweight (+91kg) following his victory over Lee Jung Min. His opponent abandoned their contest in the second round in the final.
In the elite men’s part An Seong Ho won the important light flyweight (49kg) who claimed bronze in their National Selection Tournament in March but this time he was able to beat Kim Bi in the final of the event. Hyeon Dong Ju was bronze medallist in the China Open Tournament in Guiyang one year ago and he is aiming for a place in the national top team. The young talent dominated his fight against Lim Woo Taek who abandoned their unequal contest in the third round.
Lee Sang Min is also a national team member boxer who had enough experiences to beat his rivals at the light welterweight (64kg) including Kim Joo Hong in the final. Shim Hyun Young is a veteran boxer who competed in the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games and decided to continue his career in the new Olympic era and began the year with a title following his triumph over Seok Hyeon Chan at the welterweight (69kg).
Kim Jung Won claimed bronze medal in the 2012 AIBA Asian Olympic Qualification Event in Astana and since then he moved up to the middleweight (75kg) and defeated Ohn Eul Bih in the final. Kim Dong Hoe competed in the 2009 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Milan and after a few poor years he came back to the ring with a title after beating Lee Gyeong Hyun at the heavyweight (91kg).
Heo Jin Ho will be turning to 29 later this year and following his participation in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships he returned to the national squad at the China Open Tournament last year. The experienced super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer eliminated favourite Song Hwa Pyeong in the quarter-final and controlled his final against Kim Jung Soo in Chungnam.

List of the winners in the South Korean National Championships
South Korea Women’s 51kg: Lee Suk Yeong
South Korea Women’s 60kg: Park Ji Hye
South Korea Women’s 75kg: Seong Su Yeon
South Korea Men’s Elite 49kg: An Seong Ho
South Korea Men’s Elite 52kg: Baek Seung Bin
South Korea Men’s Elite 56kg: Seong Guk Nyeong
South Korea Men’s Elite 60kg: Hyeon Dong Ju
South Korea Men’s Elite 64kg: Lee Sang Min
South Korea Men’s Elite 69kg: Shim Hyun Young
South Korea Men’s Elite 75kg: Kim Jung Won
South Korea Men’s Elite 81kg: Ji Yong Hyeon
South Korea Men’s Elite 91kg: Kim Dong Hoe
South Korea Men’s Elite +91kg: Heo Jin Ho
South Korea Men’s Student 49kg: Oh Bum Seok
South Korea Men’s Student 52kg: Kim Won Ho
South Korea Men’s Student 56kg: Ham Sang Myeong
South Korea Men’s Student 60kg: Park Jin Ho
South Korea Men’s Student 64kg: Lim Hyeon Seok
South Korea Men’s Student 69kg: Kim Chang Yeop
South Korea Men’s Student 75kg: Hong In Gi
South Korea Men’s Student 81kg: Kim Jong Jin
South Korea Men’s Student 91kg: Ju Tae Ung
South Korea Men’s Student +91kg: Kim Jin Nyong