South Korea's Kurash team has made history by winning its first gold medal at the Asian Games. The achievement came from Kim Min-young (21, Korea National Sport University), who competed in the women's over 87 kg category.
On September 29, at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall in Nagoya, Kim defeated Taiwan's Liu Yi-ling 5-0 in the final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Kurash competition.
Kim showcased her dominance early in the tournament, quickly advancing to the semifinals after securing 'halal' victories, equivalent to an ippon in judo, in both the round of 16 and quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, she faced a tough match against Arailim Shegenova from Kazakhstan. Both competitors recorded one 'chala' (valid point), but according to the rules, the last point scored determines the winner, allowing Kim to secure her place in the final.
Having overcome that challenge, Kim displayed a more stable performance in the final, maintaining control against Liu and achieving a 5-0 victory, thus marking a new chapter in South Korean Kurash history with the first gold medal.
The South Korean Kurash team has been achieving significant results at this tournament. The previous day, Mo Su-min (20, Korea National Sport University) won a silver medal in the women's 78 kg category, marking the first Asian Games medal for South Korean women in Kurash. With Kim's gold medal added the following day, the women's team has reached the podium for two consecutive days.
Kurash is a traditional martial art from Uzbekistan, similar to judo, but it focuses on standing techniques, with ground techniques such as holds, chokes, and joint locks not permitted.
South Korea did not win any medals at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, but at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, the team secured one silver and two bronze medals. With Kim's gold medal, South Korea has finally quenched its thirst for gold in Kurash at the Asian Games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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