South Korean men’s boxing delivered a “silver double punch” as Jang Dong-hwan (22, Korea National Sport University) and Kim Min-seong (21, Korea National Sport University) secured valuable silver medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The two athletes both fell short in the men’s boxing finals held on the 2nd at the Nishio Daisen Arena in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Jang, competing in the 60kg division, lost 0-5 (27-30 27-30 27-30 28-29 27-30) to Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov. From the first round, Jang aggressively pressured his opponent toward the ropes using his signature flashy footwork. However, Khalokov, who maintained distance and countered with precise punches, landed more effective blows.
Jang pushed for a KO victory in the final third round but failed to break through Khalokov’s iron defense. Despite lacking a world ranking in the 60kg division due to competing in a lower weight class, Jang emerged as the tournament’s biggest surprise by defeating the world No. 3 in the quarterfinals and an Asian Championship gold medalist in the semifinals. His silver medal marked the end of his remarkable run against the world’s top boxer. After the match, Jang said, “I tried to lure my opponent in from the first round, but things didn’t go as planned. I will regroup and secure a spot at the 2028 LA Olympics at next year’s World Championships.”
World No. 10 Kim Min-seong, competing in the men’s 80kg final, also fell to India’s Ankus (world No. 12) with a 0-4 decision (26-30 28-28 26-30 26-30 26-30). The two in-fighters, known for their aggressive styles, engaged in a fierce brawl from the start. However, Kim struggled to land his signature combinations and lost on points. “I thought I could outlast him physically, but I was too passive. Failing to attack aggressively cost me points,” he said regretfully.
South Korean men’s boxing reached the Asian Games finals for the first time in 12 years since Shin Jong-hoon and Ham Sang-myeong won gold at the 2014 Incheon Games. Coach Heo Gi-joo, who trained both athletes, said, “They are rookies who beat seasoned veterans to earn the national team tag.” He added, “I was worried they’d be nervous at such a big event, but I’m proud they both won silver.” A team official stated, “These two silver medals by young athletes could signal a revival for Korean boxing.”
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