Judo Sensation: Fearsome High School Girl Takes Down Tokyo Gold in Thrilling One-Match Upset
Hyunji Lee (white gi in photo) is competing against Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Akira Sone of Japan in the women’s +78kg match at the ‘2024 International Judo Federation (IJF) Tbilisi Grand Slam’ held at the Olympic Sports Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia in March. International Judo Federation
In the first round of selection for the women’s national judo team, a high school girl who competed in the heavyweight competition won the championship with a sensation, winning all three matches against her seniors in one match.
According to the Korean Judo Association on the 6th, Lee Hyun-ji (Namnyeong High School Grade 2) won the gold medal by defeating Kim Su-min (Gyeongnam Provincial Office) in one round in the women’s over 78kg final held at the Boryeong Sports Complex in Chungcheongnam-do the previous day. Hyun-ji Lee won half of the matches by reversing just 1 minute and 30 seconds into the game, and then added another half of the matches by pressing. Lee Hyun-ji overwhelmed her opponents with her advanced skills, winning all three games held on this day in one game.
Hyunji Lee took first place at the ‘2024 International Judo Federation (IJF) World Youth Judo Championships’ last month. In addition, she made her name known on the world stage by winning a bronze medal in the women’s over 78kg class at the 2024 International Judo Federation (IJF) Tbilisi Grand Slam held at the Olympic Sports Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia last March, defeating Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Akira Sone of Japan.
According to the regulations of the Korean Judo Association, the winners of the ‘2024 Paris Olympics’ and ‘2024 World Championships’ are Lee Ha-rim (Korea Racing Association) in the men’s 60 kg class, Jun-hwan Lee (Yongin University) in the men’s 81 kg class, Min-jong Kim (Yangpyeong County Office) in the men’s 100 kg class and over. Women’s 57kg class Heo Mi-mi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council) and Kim Ha-yoon (Ansan City Hall) automatically received first place scores in the first round of selection.
The ‘2025 National Judo Team’ will be decided by the first place winner of each weight class in the first round of selection and the first place in the second round of selection. The Korean Judo Association will hold the ‘2024 Presidential National Judo Competition and 2025 National Team 1st Selection Competition’ for 5 days from the 4th to the 8th.
CBS No Cut News Reporter Dong-gyu dk7fly@cbs.co.kr
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