Judoka Huh Mimi won the gold medal in the women’s under-57kg division at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, securing South Korea’s first judo gold of the continental multi-sport event. Competing at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Huh defeated Mongolia’s Ariunzaya Terbish in the final on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, local time, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
A Rapid Yuko Secures the Final Victory
Only 12 seconds into the championship bout, Huh executed a rear projection to score a yuko—the lowest-scoring point in international judo competition. Throughout the remainder of the final, she attempted multiple ground and arm techniques but failed to pad her score. Despite receiving a yellow card warning, the 21-year-old athlete successfully managed the clock to seal the win.
The victory marks Huh’s first appearance at the Asian Games. The gold medal also stands as South Korea’s first top-podium finish in the judo events at the Nagoya Games, following her silver-medal performance at the Paris Summer Olympics.
The Path From Tokyo to Representing South Korea
Born in Tokyo to a Korean father and a Japanese mother, Huh began her career competing under the Japanese flag. In 2021, she shifted her international sporting allegiance to represent South Korea, a move made to honor her late grandmother’s final wish. Historical records note that Huh is a direct descendant of a Korean independence fighter who resisted Japanese colonial rule between 1910 and 1945.
Following the final match, the podium at the Aichi International Arena saw regional competitors share the honor. Japan’s Mio Shirakane and North Korea’s Kim Hyon-a each claimed the bronze medals in the under-57kg weight class.
Worth a look
- Huh Mimi: From Japan to Asian Games Gold for South Korea
- South American Games Santa Fe 2026 Concludes with 54 New Records
- Nathan Cleary Wins First Dally M Medal and Andrew Webster Claims Coach of the Year (bytewire.news)
- Heo Mi-mi wins judo gold at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games honoring grandmother’s dying wish (archyde.com)
