Korean delegation concludes China-Japan-Korea Junior Comprehensive Games... Weightlifter Kim Che-rang achieves triple crown

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean junior delegation achieved meaningful results at the China-Japan-Korea Games.

The Korea National Sports Council successfully concluded its participation in the "34th China-Japan-Korea Junior Comprehensive Games," held from the 23rd to the 29th in Saga Prefecture, Japan, with a delegation of 245 athletes competing in 11 sports.

The China-Japan-Korea Junior Comprehensive Games, held on a rotating basis by South Korea, China, and Japan since 1993, has established itself as a platform for youth sports exchange and performance improvement among East Asian sporting powers. This year's event took place across Saga Prefecture (Saga, Ogi, Takeo, Tosu, etc.), with approximately 1,000 junior athletes from the national teams of South Korea, China, and Japan, as well as a selected team from the host prefecture of Saga, participating to compete in friendship and skill.

At the opening ceremony held on August 24 at Saga Arena, Min-jin Jo (handball) of the South Korean delegation took the oath, while Jeong-min Song (volleyball) served as the flag bearer, officially launching the games.

While comprehensive rankings by country are not officially calculated for this event based on a tripartite agreement, our athletes demonstrated outstanding achievements and skills in each sport.

Particularly notable was the performance in weightlifting. Park San-hae in the men's 65kg category lifted 155kg in the clean and jerk, matching the Korean student record and tying the national record, finishing with a total of 271kg to narrowly defeat his strong rival, China's Xiong Fenghui, by just 1kg and secure first place overall. Additionally, Kim Che-rang in the women's +86kg category showcased overwhelming skill, winning gold in the snatch (104kg), clean and jerk (130kg), and total (234kg) to claim the triple crown.

In track and field, athletes Han Ji-hye (1500m, 4:39.35) and Kim Si-hoo (400m, 47.82) achieved personal best records, marking a significant step in their growth.

Excellent focus was also evident in team events. The women's volleyball and women's handball teams won both of their matches against Japan and Saga, while the women's tennis team went undefeated with three consecutive victories. In other team sports such as football and rugby, as well as racket sports including tennis, padel, table tennis, and badminton, the delegation secured valuable victories against the host team from Saga and strong competitors from China and Japan, gaining precious international experience.

Meanwhile, the Korea National Sports Council additionally dispatched professional medical personnel (physical therapists) to the delegation, providing close medical and conditioning services at the same level as those offered to national team athletes. By actively offering taping, injury treatment, heat illness management, and on-site recovery support during the games, they helped junior athletes compete with reduced injury burdens and in peak condition, significantly boosting satisfaction among participating athletes.

Furthermore, the Korea National Sports Council actively produced various promotional content using social media to vividly convey the atmosphere at the event and the athletes' performances. Showcasing content that reflected the perspectives of junior athletes and the latest trends—including introductions to participating teams and short-form videos directly created by the athletes—the organization increased interest and participation in the games. As a result, cumulative views for social media content related to the event surpassed 550,000, drawing significant attention.

In addition to official competitions, the delegation participated in a friendship event (e-sports and performances) held on August 27 at Mizu Welfare Hall and a cultural exploration program on the 28th, sharing meaningful time with youth from all three countries by building friendships beyond language and borders while experiencing local culture.

Yoo Seung-min (Chairman) stated, "I am proud of the junior athletes who did their best to showcase their skills and built strong bonds of friendship among the three nations through sports," adding, "We will continue to provide unwavering support so that future generations of athletes leading South Korea can develop international competitiveness."

Meanwhile, the next event, the 35th China-Japan-Korea Junior Comprehensive Games, is scheduled to be held in 2027 in Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.