'North Korean Boxing Hero' Lim Ae-ji to stand on the bronze medal podium with Bang Chul-mi"I wanted to go higher"
Aug 05, 2024
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It was a regret of Lim Ae-ji (Hwasun County Office). Lim Ae-ji lost to Hatice Akbashi (Turkiye) by a decision of 2 to 3 in the women's 54kg class semi-final at the 2024 Paris Olympics held at the North Paris Arena in Paris, France on the 4th (Korea time). Lim Ae-ji, who reached the semifinals with a 3-2 decision over Yeni Marcella Arias Castaneda of Colombia in the quarterfinals earlier, has already secured a bronze medal. Olympic Boxing does not play a bronze medal match, but awards bronze to all players who lost in the semifinals. Lim Ae-ji, the first Korean female boxer to win an Olympic medal, tried to change her color to gold, but unfortunately failed to advance to the final.
Lim Ae-ji, who won the bronze medal, will stand on the podium with North Korean boxing hero Bang Chul-mi. Bang Chul-mi, the same 54kg class, also advanced to the semifinals, but lost to Changyuan (China) first and won the bronze medal. Lim Ae-ji said "My slogan for this competition was 'Taegeukgi in the Paris sky' When I heard that Bang Chul-mi lost the semifinal she played first, I wanted to win and go higher on the podium." I then thought, "(I also lost in the semi-finals) so I wish I didn't stand side by side on the podium." I wanted to win like that, but the picture I wanted didn't come out.'
Lim Ae-ji has a relationship with Bang Chul-mi. The two competed in the women's 54kg boxing round of 16 at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. The result is Lim Ae-ji's defeat. Bang Chul-mi, who beat Lim Ae-ji, went up to the final, overpowered Changyuan and won the gold medal. Lim Ae-ji said "When we first met at the Asian Games, Bang Cheol-mi was in a situation where she put on weight and I was downweight. Players in the same weight class don't have a lot of conversations, but they're in different weights, so we talked a little bit. "Good job to me after the game. He said he improved a lot. So I said thank you. I remember thinking 'I lost, but I improved'" he said.
Lim Ae-ji did not clash with Bang Cheol-mi in this competition, but she met at the weight court. He said "When I met Bang Chul-mi at the weight course in the athletes' village, she told me 'Go for it'." So I told him to cheer up together. I asked to meet him in the final, but they both lost."
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
