South Korean boxing team member Lim Ae-ji leaves the stadium with coach Han Soon-chul (left) after winning a bronze medal in the women’s 54kg semifinal match against Turkey’s Hattis Akbas at the North Paris Arena in Paris, France on the afternoon of the 4th (Korean time).
Lim Ae-ji (25, Hwasun County Office), bronze medalist in women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said that she had a conversation with North Korea’s boxing hero Bang Chol-mi (29) during the competition.
On the 4th (local time), Lim Ae-ji competed in the semifinals of the women’s 54kg class at the North Paris Arena in Paris, France. She lost to Hatise Akbashi of Turkey by a score of 2-3 and won the bronze medal.
North Korea’s Bang Chol-mi also advanced to the semifinals of the same class, but lost to Chang Yuan of China and won the bronze medal. The two will stand together on the third place podium after the final of the women’s 54kg class to be held at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris on the 7th.
Im Ae-ji said in an interview with reporters after the game, “I met Bang Chul-mi at the athletes’ village weight room.” Bang Chul-mi reportedly encouraged Im Ae-ji to “fight.”
Im Ae-ji said, “So I told her to do my best too. We asked her to meet in the finals, but we both lost.”
The relationship between Im Ae-ji and Bang Chul-mi began at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. At that time, the two faced each other in the round of 16 of the women’s 54kg boxing event, and Bang Chul-mi defeated Im Ae-ji and advanced to the finals. He later defeated Chang Yuan to win the gold medal.
Lim Ae-ji mentioned the Hangzhou Asian Games, saying, “When we first met, Bang Chul-mi had gained weight and I had dropped a weight class. Athletes in the same weight class don’t usually talk much, but since we were in different weight classes, we talked a little bit.” She continued, “After the game, she told me, ‘You did a good job. You’ve gained a lot.’ So I thanked her,” and added, “I remember thinking, ‘I lost, but I’ve gained a lot.’” Lim Ae-ji said, “My slogan for this competition was ‘Taegeukgi in the Paris Sky.’ When I heard that Bang Chul-mi had lost in the semifinals, I absolutely wanted to win and stand higher on the podium,” and added, “I wish we weren’t next to each other on the podium (because I also lost in the semifinals).” She also expressed regret, saying, “I wanted to win so badly, but the picture I wanted didn’t come out.” 카지노사이트