Kim Ha-yoon Secures Historic Judo Gold for South Korea at the 19th Asian Games

Kim Ha-yoon Secures Historic Judo Gold for South Korea at the 19th Asian Games

Unprecedented Victory in Women’s 78kg+ Judo Final

In a dramatic turn of events at the 19th Asian Games, South Korea’s Kim Ha-yoon emerged victorious in the women’s 78kg+ judo final against China’s Xu Shiyan. This triumph not only averted a no-gold situation for South Korea in the individual judo events but also marked a historic first: the first time a South Korean female judoka has won a gold medal in the 78kg+ category at the Asian Games.

Defying the Odds and the Crowd

Despite the overwhelming support for Xu Shiyan from the home crowd, Kim Ha-yoon remained unfazed. She launched an aggressive attack against her opponent from the start, securing a half-point just 43 seconds into the match. Kim continued to maintain her focus and successfully defended her position to claim the top spot.

From Delight to Ambition

After the match, Kim Ha-yoon expressed her delight at winning and her ambition to replicate her success at the Paris Olympics next year. “I’m really happy to win this time. I want to replicate this victory at the Paris Olympics next year and become an Olympic champion,” she stated confidently.

Averting a No-gold Crisis

Before Kim Ha-yoon’s win, the South Korean judo team had not won any gold medals at the Asian Games, and the country was facing a no-gold crisis in the individual events. Kim Ha-yoon’s gold medal, therefore, was a valuable gift to South Korea, adding a much-needed gold to its tally.

Boosting South Korea’s Medal Count

The victory added one gold and two bronze medals (men’s +100kg, women’s -78kg) to South Korea’s tally, bringing the total medal count in the individual events to nine (one gold, two silver, and six bronze). This is a significant boost to the country’s performance at the Asian Games, showing the resilience and determination of its athletes.