Kang Sang-hyun and Moon Jin-ho, first participants in the Asian Games, won bronze medals in Taekwondo

(Toyohashi [Japan] = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-han = The weight of the first Asian Games was special for Kang Sang-hyun (24, Ulsan Metropolitan Sports Council), who reached the top twice at the World Championships, and rookie Moon Jin-ho (18, Korea National Sport University), who won successive international competitions this year.

Kang Sang-hyun won the bronze medal in the men's over-80kg semifinals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Toyohashi General Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan on the 3rd, losing to Marat Mableronov (Uzbekistan) with a round score of 0-2 (8-15 8-8).

He said in the joint coverage area (mixed zone) after the game, "There were definitely more spectators and cheering people than other games, so I was more nervous."

Kang Sang-hyun won the men's 87kg class at the 2023 Baku World Championships, and won the over-87kg class at last year's Wuxi Games, becoming the world's top athlete for the second time in a row.

However, in the first Asian Games, they failed to cross the final threshold. In particular, the last scene of the second round was disappointing.

After giving up the first round, he was ahead 8-2 in the second round, but he gave up 6 points due to a spinning head attack at the end, resulting in a tie and falling short of the superiority standard.

Kang Sang-hyeon looked back and said, “I was paying attention because my opponent kicked a lot with his right foot, but at the end he kicked with his left foot. It’s also true that I couldn’t finish it.”

He continued, “I prepared hard, but I still feel like there are a lot of things I’m lacking,” and “I’m disappointed that I couldn’t concentrate until the end.”

Sang-Hyun Kang will participate in the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Paris, which opens on the 9th, in order to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics.

Jin-ho Moon, who won the bronze medal in the men's 68kg class, also reflected that he was unable to show off his skills to his full potential due to tension that day.

Jin-ho Moon, who won this year's Asian Championships, Chuncheon Korea Open, and Muju Grand Prix, lost to Banrung Tuptimdang (Thailand) in the semifinals with a round score of 1-2 (9-0 0-14 5-5).

He shed tears after the game and confessed, "I exercised and worked hard ahead of the big stage called the Asian Games, but I feel even more disappointed because I feel like I wasn't able to do everything I did in training on the field."

He continued, "I was very disappointed with today's match," but pledged, "I'll shake it all off and prepare harder because there are still more matches left, and I'll work out with the goal of the LA Olympics."