Five members of the South Korea national judo team missed their connecting flight to the world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, after failing to reach their gate on time at Dubai International Airport while stopping to eat. MBC News Desk and Financial News reported that the travel mishap unfolded immediately following the conclusion of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Transit Miscalculation at Dubai International Airport
The travel delay involved women’s head coach Chung Seong-sook alongside four unnamed athletes who traveled straight from the Asian Games in Japan to transit through the United Arab Emirates. Instead of proceeding directly to their connecting terminal, the group stopped for a meal at Dubai International Airport without accounting for extensive terminal walking distances and bus transfer wait times. Consequently, the five team members missed their scheduled flight.
A separate contingent consisting of men’s head coach Hwang Hee-tae and 11 other athletes successfully caught the original connection and arrived in Baku on schedule. The stranded group spent approximately nine hours at Dubai International Airport before securing an alternative flight to Azerbaijan.
Contestation Over Athlete Conditioning and Recovery
Financial News reported that the unscheduled delay forced the athletes to endure unnecessary physical exhaustion immediately following a demanding competition block at the Asian Games, significantly impacting their tournament preparation. In contrast, the Korea Judo Association defended the situation in public statements, emphasizing that the delayed competitors compete in heavier weight classes and retain a two-day buffer before their official weigh-ins, meaning the travel disruption poses no threat to their participation.
South Korea’s delegation finished the first four weight classes of the world championships without securing a medal. Media reports noted that criticism emerged regarding the compressed international schedule, with outside observers questioning why the governing body did not split the national squad between the two tournaments. The Korea Judo Association responded that the athletes themselves expressed a strong desire to compete in both events.
Prior Administrative Failures at the Asian Games
Chon subsequently detailed the internal failures on social media, stating that coaches instructed her to keep the matter quiet. MBC News Desk and Financial News both highlighted the back-to-back administrative failures as severe lapses in team management by the national sports organization. While the Korea Judo Association stated it would investigate coaching staff upon the team’s return from world championship competition, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee’s athlete committee separately announced plans to launch an independent inquiry.
Delayed Delegation Reaches Baku for Judo Championships
The delayed delegation members completed their journey to Baku via replacement flights following their nine-hour layover in the United Arab Emirates. The world championships in Azerbaijan continue through the remainder of the week as the rest of the national judo squad competes across remaining weight categories.
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