South Korean judoka Huh Mimi and Lee Joon-hwan advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Nov. 1, securing their places through dominant preliminary performances at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan. Huh, competing in the women’s 57kg category, and Lee, competing in the men’s 81kg division, both recorded victories well inside regulation time during their opening bouts and quarterfinal matches.
Quarterfinal Victories Secure Semifinal Berths
Huh Mimi punched her ticket to the women’s 57kg semifinals by defeating China’s Tao Yuying by ippon in the quarterfinals. The match ended in 1:30 via osaekomi, or a hold-down, capping a fast-paced morning for the South Korean competitor representing the Gyeongbuk Sports Council. Earlier in the round of 16, Huh needed just 28 seconds to dispatch her opponent, scoring a waza-ari via a throw at the 14-second mark before securing a second waza-ari and the match-ending hold-down at 27 seconds. Huh’s semifinal opponent is Uzbekistan’s Shukurjon Aminova, with the winner advancing to the gold medal match.
Lee Joon-hwan Dominates Men’s 81kg Rounds
In the men’s 81kg division, Lee Joon-hwan of the Pohang City Hall club matched his teammate’s efficiency by sweeping through his preliminary tests. Lee defeated Laos athlete Soulisay Sayasanh in 44 seconds during the round of 16. He followed that performance in the quarterfinals by earning an initial score before securing a waza-ari via a leg throw to close out the contest. Lee advances to face Japanese competitor Sotaro Fujiwara in the semifinal round.
Family Legacy and International Representation
The Asian Games carry distinct personal significance for Huh, who was born in Japan in 2002 and developed as an elite judoka there. She chose to relinquish her Japanese citizenship and adopt South Korean nationality to fulfill the dying wish of her grandmother, who passed away in 2021. Her family history also ties into Korean independence movements; she is the fifth-generation descendant of Huh Seok, an activist imprisoned during the Japanese colonial period for distributing anti-Japanese posters. Huh previously claimed a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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