First place in individual and group stages of the '2017 International Blind Sports Federation Judo Asian Championships'
Overcame visual impairments taking two goals in regular collegiate tournament as well
Joined paralympic national team in April of this year and made immediate results in international championship
[June 2, 2017]
<Kim Yun-ho took first place in two events at the 2017 IBSA Judo Asian Championships>
Kim Yun-ho (21, Department of Special Physical Education, junior) conquered Asia by taking two golds at the '2017 IBSA (international Blind Sports Federation) Judo Asian Championships.
At this tournament, which was held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on May 26 and 27, Kim Yun-ho took gold at the individual -81kg event and the group event.
Kim Yun-ho is a promising athlete who also won two college tournaments for those without disabilities as well. Despite having visual impairments, Kim participated in general tournaments instead of those for the disabled to improve his skills. He said that he practiced harder than others because he did not want to hear people say that he would not be able to compete at top levels because of his poor vision. Head coach of the national paralympic judo team Park Noh-seok continuously persuaded Kim to join his team. Right after joining the national paralympic team in April of this year, he won two golds in international championships.
Kim Yun-ho said, "I actually had a preconception about those with disabilities and only participated in general tournaments for those without disabilities. After joining the national team, I was embarrassed of myself having such preconceptions while watching athletes from different countries overcoming their disabilities and working hard to improve their judo skills." He added, "I will continue to participate in international tournaments for the disabled as well as regular tournaments in Korea to display the strength of Korea in judo."
YU's judo team has a long history and tradition since it was founded in 1956. Lee Gyeong-geun, gold medalist in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and Kwak Dae-sung, silver medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics both graduated from YU. Kim's gold is the first medal won from an international tournament since Lee Chan-joo (YU, Sports Science, '12) won a bronze medal in the -60kg division at the 2015 East Asian Judo Championships.
