South Korea’s Judo Delegation Misses Baku World Championships Flight Due to Airport Dining Delay
Four members of the South Korean national judo team and their coach missed their connecting flight at Dubai International Airport after losing track of time while dining, forcing a nine-hour delay before catching an alternate route to the International Judo Federation Baku World Championships. The travel disruption follows a separate weigh-in disqualification controversy during the recent Asian Games, compounding a difficult stretch for the delegation ahead of the global tournament opening on the 10th.
Transit Miscalculation in Dubai
The travel mishap unfolded as the group, overseen by coach Jung Sung-sook for the women’s division, transited through the United Arab Emirates. Having left their Asian Games commitments behind, the squad faced a multi-leg journey to Azerbaijan because direct flights to Baku were unavailable. During a scheduled layover spanning roughly three hours and forty-five minutes, the athletes and their coach stopped for a meal inside the sprawling terminal. Unaware of the expansive walking distances required to reach their boarding gate, the group failed to arrive in time for departure.
While Jung’s cohort remained stranded in the Middle East for approximately nine hours, other segments of the national program experienced no such trouble. Coach Hwang Hee-tae and the remaining athletes successfully boarded the original flight on schedule. Korea Judo Association officials confirmed that the stranded competitors belong to heavier weight divisions and retain a two-day buffer before their official weigh-ins, meaning the delay will not jeopardize their eligibility to compete.
Weigh-in Disqualification Investigation Looms
The association stated that a comprehensive investigation into the weigh-in failure and the conduct of supervising coaches will commence after the world championships conclude. Officials emphasized that the priority remains allowing the delegation currently in Azerbaijan to focus entirely on the mats, with disciplinary reviews and policy enforcement scheduled upon the team's return to South Korea.
Meanwhile, Seo Mi-mee of Gyeongbuk Sports Council, who captured a gold medal at the preceding Asian Games, did not travel with the squad and is absent from the current world championship entries.
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