South Korea did not pick up a medal at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, the first time the country was shut out since the start of the race on Saturday.
However, South Korea has secured a long-awaited medal in boxing that will be officially added to its tally later in the competition.
Im Ae-ji reached the semifinals in the women’s 54-kilogram boxing event, after eliminating Yeni Arias of Colombia in a 3-2 decision.
There is no third-place bout in Olympic boxing, and the two losers of the semifinals are both awarded bronze medals. Im’s will be South Korea’s first medal in boxing in 12 years and first in women’s boxing, period. She will fight Hatice Akbas of Turkiye in the semifinals on Sunday. The final, should Im get there, is next Thursday.
In the all-Korean duel in the badminton mixed doubles semifinals, Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun outdueled Seo Seung-jae and 스포츠 Chae Yu-jung 2-1 (21-16, 20-22, 23-21). By reaching Friday’s final, Kim and Jeong have guaranteed themselves at least the silver medal.
It will be South Korea’s first medal in the mixed doubles since 2008.
Seo and Chae, the 2023 world champions, will try to win the bronze medal, also on Friday, in their second Olympic Games together.