Knocked Down and Kicked, Male Senior at Equestrian Competition Faints Female Junior and Coaxes Her... Another Sports World Assault Scandal

On the 12th, at a motel parking lot in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, a male equestrian athlete assaulted a junior female athlete, knocking her down and kicking her.
[Image source=MBC news capture]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A video showing a male equestrian athlete assaulting a junior female athlete at a national equestrian competition has been released, adding another scandal to the chronic issue of violence in the sports community.

According to an MBC report, on the 12th, at a motel parking lot in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, male equestrian athlete A (in his 20s) assaulted junior female equestrian athlete B.

In the released video, A struck B on the neck, causing her to fall, then after helping her up, grabbed her collar and slapped her face.

A also lightly kicked B’s abdomen while she was down.

Subsequently, three other athletes appeared at the parking lot, checked B’s condition, and helped her stand up. B was immediately taken to the lodging of the group.

After fainting and regaining consciousness, B was subjected to persuasion and threats by senior athletes inside the room for two hours.

B claimed that they pressured her by saying, “It’s nothing serious, let’s just move on.” She said the reason she was assaulted by A was because she “did not greet properly.”

Three days after the assault, A sent B a lengthy apology text message.

It included statements such as, “I am truly sorry. I deeply regret it. I am still reflecting and regretting a lot. If you are okay with it, I want to go to where you are, see you face to face, and sincerely apologize.”

The group present at the scene claimed, “We did not forcibly take B to the room; we were trying to reconcile.”

The day after the assault, the perpetrator and his group participated in the equestrian competition, while B was unable to compete.

The police, having received B’s report, have launched an investigation, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Sports Ethics Center has also begun a fact-finding inquiry.