NAGOYA, Japan — South Korea has reached a new milestone in kurash after Kim Min-young captured the country’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in the sport at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday.
Kim defeated Shih Liu-ling of Chinese Taipei 5–0 in the women’s +87-kilogram final at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall, completing a historic breakthrough for South Korean kurash.
The victory came just one day after Mo Su-min won silver in the women’s 78-kg division, giving South Korea its first kurash medal at these Games before Kim converted that momentum into gold.
A First for South Korean Kurash
Kurash has been part of the Asian Games program since 2018, but South Korea had never produced an Asiad champion in the sport.
Before Kim’s victory, South Korean athletes had collected two silver medals and one bronze in kurash at the Asian Games. Kim’s gold now becomes the country’s first title in the discipline.
Her achievement also comes after Mo Su-min’s breakthrough silver on Monday, when Mo became the first South Korean woman to win an Asian Games kurash medal.
Kim’s Road to the Final
Kim entered the decisive match after navigating a demanding knockout stage.
She recorded decisive victories in the round of 16 and quarterfinals before edging Kazakhstan’s Arailym Shegenova 1–0 in the semifinal. The tight semifinal was decided after both athletes registered one technical score, with Kim taking the win under the competition’s scoring rules.
She then delivered a 5–0 performance in the final to secure the historic gold.
What Is Kurash?
Kurash is a traditional wrestling discipline originating in Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan.
Unlike wrestling formats that include extensive ground fighting, kurash focuses on throwing an opponent while standing. Ground techniques such as pinning, choking and joint locks are prohibited.
The sport’s emphasis on throws makes timing, balance and technique crucial during a bout.
A New Chapter for Korea
Kim’s victory gives South Korean kurash its biggest Asian Games achievement since the sport entered the competition program.
It also creates a notable sequence for the country’s women’s team: Mo Su-min reached the podium with silver on Monday, followed by Kim’s gold a day later.
For Kim, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games will now be remembered as the tournament where she moved South Korean kurash from medal contender to Asian Games champion.
One silver opened the door. Kim Min-young’s gold has now changed the history of South Korean kurash.
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