Taegeukgi Embroidered on the Hand Holding the Dobok

[Olympics] Taegeukgi Embroidered on the Hand Holding the Dobok… Judo Coach: “It Will be Waved in Paris”

Judo National Team, Aiming for One Gold Medal Each for Men and Women… Challenging for Gold for the First Time in 12 Years.

“I actually don’t do this at all...”

Kim Mi-jung (53), the head coach of the women’s national judo team, shyly showed off her ten fingers when we met her at Incheon International Airport before boarding a flight to Paris, France on the 18th.

Her fingernails were painted with the Taegeuk pattern, which is a component of the Taegeukgi, the four trigrams of Geon-gon-gam-ri, and the French tricolor (blue, red, and white) where the 2024 Paris Olympics will be held.

On the day of heading to the 'land of the decisive battle' after three years of arduous pickling, her strong will to win the gold medal was evident. 토토사이트 순위

Coach Kim said, "I am a role model (for the players) and I have never done this because of the nature of judo (which involves a lot of hand techniques), but now that I don't have to hold the judo uniform..." and "I asked my daughter, 'Please draw (the Taegeukgi) on my hand so that I can wave the Taegeukgi at the Paris Olympics. '"

Korean judo is challenging for its first Olympic gold medal in 12 years since the 2012 London Games.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, they only won two silver medals and one bronze medal, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, they only won one silver medal and two bronze medals.

In particular, women's judo is determined to end the 28-year gold medal drought since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Coach Kim Mi-jung, who won the first Olympic gold medal for women's judo in Korea at the 1992 Barcelona Games, is instilling confidence in his juniors.

Coach Kim lamented, “Women’s judo has been in a slump for a while, and the players have no confidence in themselves,” and “despite having the ability to be in the top three, they lack confidence.”

He said, “I often tell the players, ‘Have confidence. You have the ability to win a medal,’” and “I focused on helping them have confidence.”

Coach Kim’s determination to motivate the players toward their medal goal was evident in their determination.

Coach Kim said with determination, "I'm thinking of at least two bronze medals, but I think I have the power to say it.

I'll definitely win one gold medal."

In women's judo, the most promising players include Heo Mi-mi (57kg class), who won the World Championships in May, and Kim Ha-yoon (over 78kg), who won the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year.

Coach Hwang Hee-tae (46) of the men's national team had clean nails, but his desire for a gold medal was equally hot.

Coach Hwang, who set a goal of one gold medal in the men's division, said solemnly, "If we don't win a gold medal at this competition, judo will fall a lot.

Kim Min-jong in the over 100kg class and Lee Jun-hwan in the 81kg class are strong gold medal candidates."

Regarding local training, Coach Hwang Hee-tae said, "Athletes with upcoming competition schedules will adjust their weight and condition, and heavyweight athletes who still have time will continue intensive training."