Nineteen-year-old Lee Hyun-ji secured the women’s 78-kilogram-plus title at the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, defeating France’s Romane Dicko by ippon in the final on June 10.
The victory marks a swift rebound for Lee, who settled for a silver medal at the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after losing the final to China’s Niu Xinran. Choosing to skip an extended rest period, Lee entered the world championships directly to gain international experience, ultimately navigating the heavyweight division without conventional weight-cutting constraints or scheduling pressure.
Baku Final and Decisive Ippon Over Dicko
Facing world number three Romane Dicko of France in the championship bout, Lee executed a decisive sequence midway through the standard four-minute match. Dicko entered the contest with an extensive international pedigree, including two individual Olympic bronze medals and two mixed team gold medals. Lee secured a waza-ari via Ashi-guruma before transitioning immediately into Kesa-gatame to accumulate a second waza-ari, resulting in an ippon victory at the two-minute, thirty-second mark.
The win stands as South Korea’s sole individual gold medal of the tournament. On the men’s side, Kim Min-jong advanced past the first round of the 100-kilogram-plus category via walkover before being eliminated in the second round by Japan’s Kanta Nakago via ippon on Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi.
Path Through World Ranking Leaders
Lee’s progression to the final required dominant performances against top-tier international opponents. The world number four secured ippon victories in every preliminary match, dispatching her first-round opponent through the semifinalists in under fifty seconds each.
In the semifinal, Lee faced Israel’s Raz Hershko, the current world number one and a silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lee defeated Hershko in forty-eight seconds using a Ko-soto-gari throw to earn an ippon.
National Selection and Roster Dynamics
Lee earned her national team selection as a first-year student at Jeju Namnyeong High School, establishing herself as a leading prospect in South Korean judo. During domestic trials for the Asian Games, Lee defeated Kim Ha-yun—who had secured South Korea’s sole gold medal at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games—to claim the national berth.
Following her silver medal finish at the Asian Games behind Niu Xinran, Lee’s coaching staff elected to keep her active on the competition circuit. Niu exited the world championships in the opening round of thirty-two, while Asian Games 57-kilogram gold medalist Mimi Huh did not enter the tournament.
Coaching Leadership and Global Standing
Under the direction of women’s team head coach Jeong Sung-suk, South Korea secured its second world title in the women’s heavyweight division. Last year’s campaign yielded one gold medal from Kim Ha-yun, a silver in the mixed team event, and three bronze medals contributed by Lee Hyun-ji, Kim Min-jong, and Lee Joon-ファン.
Japan finished atop the overall medal table by securing seven gold, two silver, and three bronze medals across the fourteen individual weight categories, utilizing a roster that prioritized the world championships over the regional Asian Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Lee Hyun-ji’s previous result at the World Judo Championships?
At the previous world championships, Lee reached the quarterfinals where she was defeated by teammate Kim Ha-yun before working through the repechage rounds to claim a bronze medal.
How long did Lee’s semifinal match last against Raz Hershko?
Lee defeated Israel’s Raz Hershko in forty-eight seconds during the semifinal using a Ko-soto-gari to score an ippon.
Which university does Lee Hyun-ji represent domestically?
