Gurye National Women's Cheonhajangsa, University Jangsa Ssireum Tournament Successfully Concluded

Im Sujeong (Yeongdong County Office) Crowned Women's Cheonhajangsa Again Last Year

Um Hajin (Gurye County Office) Rises to 5th Chrysanthemum Champion This Year

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] The 14th Gurye National Women's Cheonhajangsa and University Jangsa Ssireum Tournament, held for four days from September 22 to 25 at the Gurye Indoor Gymnasium, concluded successfully.

The tournament featured university division weight class and team competitions, women's division weight class and Cheonhajangsa competitions, and student division weight class competitions.

Among them, the highlight of this tournament, the Women's Cheonhajangsa (open weight) competition, saw intense participation from players ranging from Maehwa class (under 60kg) to Mugunghwa class (under 80kg).

In the "Women's Cheonhajangsa (open weight)" final, the strongest player in the Gukhwa class, Im Sujeong from Yeongdong County Office, faced off against the strongest player in the Mugunghwa class, Lee Dahyeon from Geoje City Office.

Lee Dahyeon took the first round by attempting a deulbaejigi (lifting throw), but Im Sujeong used deulbaejigi and mil-eochigi (pushing throw) techniques to achieve a 2:1 comeback victory.

As a result, Im Sujeong was crowned Gurye Women's Cheonhajangsa champion again this year, following last year.

In addition, in the women's first division weight class champions, Kim Chaeo (Goesan County Office) won the Maehwa class (under 60kg), and Eom Hajin (Gurye County Office) won the Gukhwa class (under 70kg). In the second division weight class champions, No Eunsoo (Gyeongnam) won the Maehwa class (under 60kg), Kim Chaerin (Busan) won the Gukhwa class (under 70kg), and Yang Hyunsoo (Gyeongbuk) won the Mugunghwa class (under 80kg).

In the university jangsa division, Jeon Seonggeun (Kyonggi University) won the light jangsa class, Lim Juseong (Kyonggi University) won the small jangsa class, Kim Minjae (Dong-A University) won the medium jangsa class, Lee Junhyeong (Yongin University) won the dragon jangsa class, Lee Taegyu (Kyonggi University) won the warrior jangsa class, Im Suju (Kyonggi University) won the history jangsa class, and Hong Jiheun (Yeungnam University) won the jangsa class. In the university team competition, Daegu University defeated Gyeongnam University to claim the championship.

The Gurye County Office Ssireum team saw Eom Hajin secure her fifth jangsa title this year, maintaining the Gukhwa class jangsa position at the Gurye tournament for three consecutive years since 2020.

Kim Sunho, Gurye County Governor, stated, "We will provide a stage where female athletes can showcase excellent matches and will spare no support to develop and popularize Ssireum, a traditional Korean folk sport."

Meanwhile, Gurye County has hosted the Women's Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Tournament for the 14th time since the first event in 2009, and as a mecca of women's Ssireum, plans to focus on discovering and nurturing players to expand the base of Ssireum.

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr