Kim Min-joo, a rising star in South Korean women's judo, earned a silver medal in the women's 78kg category at her first Asian Games, but she was left in tears after a controversial decision in the final.
On October 2, at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, Kim faced Mizuki Sugimura of the host nation in a tense golden score match, ultimately losing after receiving three penalties.
Both athletes received a penalty just 39 seconds into the match. Kim attempted her signature throw multiple times but failed to score. With just 20 seconds left in regulation, she received a second penalty for a false attack, putting her in a precarious position.
The match moved into golden score. After 1 minute and 12 seconds, Sugimura was also penalized for passivity, meaning both competitors were at risk of losing with one more penalty. However, at 2 minutes and 3 seconds into the extension, Kim received a third penalty for another false attack, sealing the victory for Sugimura.
As the match concluded with the disappointing decision, Kim was visibly emotional as she left the mat.
Kim's journey to the final was marked by aggressive play. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Ekaterina Tokareva of Kazakhstan with a throw just 2 minutes and 24 seconds into the match. In the semifinals, she secured a win against Akulina Shaev of Lebanon, scoring a point with a shoulder throw 2 minutes and 30 seconds before the end, and then added another point with a throw 40 seconds later to advance to the final.
Born in 2003, Kim gained recognition at the IJF Tokyo Grand Slam in December 2024, where she defeated 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Shori Hamada by disqualification in the semifinals. She earned a silver medal in the final against Kurena Ikeda of Japan after a golden score.
In May of last year, she claimed her first Grand Slam title by defeating Mao Izumi of Japan with a throw in the final at the Kazakhstan Baris Grand Slam. She also added a silver medal at the Asian Championships that same year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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