Korean judoka Heo Mi-mi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council) made a strong start in her first individual competition at the Asian Games.
On October 1, at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, Heo defeated the Philippines' Joemari Heart Rafael in the women's 57kg round of 16, winning by ippon just 28 seconds into the match, securing her place in the quarterfinals.
Heo quickly grabbed her opponent's sleeve as the match began and executed a throw just 14 seconds in. The referees initially awarded an ippon but later revised the decision to a waza-ari.
Riding the momentum, Heo continued her attack, maintaining a hold for 10 seconds to earn a second waza-ari and concluded the match decisively.
This Asian Games holds special significance for Heo. Born in Japan in 2002 and having grown up as an elite judoka, she renounced her Japanese citizenship to represent South Korea, fulfilling her late grandmother's wishes. Heo is also recognized as a descendant of independence activist Heo Seok, who was imprisoned for posting anti-Japanese slogans during the colonial period, drawing further attention to her story.
Since donning the South Korean uniform, Heo's progress has been remarkable. She proved her elite status by winning the world championship in 2024, the first South Korean woman to do so in 29 years. At the same year's Paris Olympics, she reached the finals but lost in a dramatic overtime match, earning a silver medal.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.