Korean Taekwondo's Ahn Hyang-sik and Kwak Min-ju Advance to Semifinals Together... Secure Bronze Medals [Nagoya AG]
- Input
- 2026-10-02 18:04:58
- Updated
- 2026-10-02 18:04:58

According to the sports industry on the 2nd, Ahn Hyang-sik defeated Huang Kefen (China) 2-0 (6-2, 16-10) in the quarterfinals of the men's 58kg taekwondo sparring event at the 2026 Asian Games held at Toyohashi City Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Ahn Hyang-sik pulled ahead to 6-0 in the first round by successfully landing a series of body attacks, and seized the victory by giving up only 2 points through skillful game management until the very end.
In the second round, he maintained a 12-6 lead with body attacks and other moves, eventually winning 16-10. Ahn Hyang-sik then advanced to the semifinals.
Kwak Min-ju (Korea National Sport University) in the women's 67kg class also defeated Rajan Alawashdeh (Jordan) 2-0 (7-6, 9-1) to advance to the semifinals.
Kwak Min-ju won the first round 7-6 by a one-point margin and overwhelmed her opponent in the second round by successfully landing consecutive body and head attacks.
Kang Jae-kwon (Samsung S1 Taekwondo Team) in the men's 80kg class and Lee Yu-min (Gwanak High School), the youngest member of the national team in the women's 49kg class, who competed alongside them, failed to advance to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Asian Games taekwondo sparring format awards bronze medals to both athletes who lose in the semifinals, without a bronze-medal match. Accordingly, Ahn Hyang-sik and Kwak Min-ju have secured at least bronze medals.
[email protected] Kwon Jun-ho Reporter