Olympics Gold Medalist Judo Girl Eying Heavier Class

Kye Sun Hui

By Ko Yong Min

TOKYO -- North Korea's Atlanta female judo champion has an eye to winning a heavier class than her current class, 48-kg, in the forthcoming October Paris World Judo Championship.

This disclosure came in remarks by Hyon Chang Gwi, executive director of the Korean Judo Association in Japan as he returned to Tokyo from a International Judo Federation meeting in France.

Kye Sun Hui made her sensational debut as a Korean heroine at Atlanta by winning the DPRK her first gold medal by beating Tamura Ryoko, a Japanese two-time world judo champion in the 48-kg class.

"The World Judo Championship in October in Paris must be totally amazing," the expatriate Korean judo trainer said.

Hyon also serves as executive director of the DPRK Judo Association.

He also observed: "At present stage, I can't tell you all things about our plan for the championships, but the Paris championships should be very exciting."

Hyon Chang Gwi, who coached Kye Sun Hui at Atlanta, stressed: "If Kye Sun Hui meets Tamura Ryoko again, she is sure to win. Not surprisingly, there are three to four judo players in the DPRK who are as strong as Kye."

Kye Sun Hwi, who was totally unknown in the international arena until the Atlanta Olympics, also said after winning the gold medal that it was easier for her to fight in international tournaments than in her country.

Since the Atlanta Olympics, Kye has not been available to international games. In November last year, not Kye Sun Hui, but Pae Dong Suk, another north Korean strong female Judo player, won the gold medal in the 48-kg class of the Asian Judo Championships when she defeat three to zero Nagai Atsuko, a Japanese judo girl, a major rival of Tamura.

Obviously, Kye Sun Hui is not interested in engaging Tamura or other 48-kg class players since she conquered the category. Instead Pae Dong Suk is expected to meet Tamura, while Kye Sun Hui will join a heavier class.