Pohang City Hall Rowing Team's An Hee-ju Wins National Team Selection Competition

Confirmed National Team Selection and Asian Games Participation in Rookie Year

Team Achieves 1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze in Season's First Tournament

Ahn Hee-ju, a rower from the Pohang City Hall Workplace Sports Team, secured first place at both the 2023 National Team Selection and the 65th National Rowing Championships held at Hwacheon Lake Rowing Course in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do.

Jang Min-i and Ahn Hee-joo (right), winners at the 65th National Rowing Championships.

After graduating from Korea National Sport University and joining the city hall workplace sports rowing team, Ahn Hee-ju immediately rose as a rising star in South Korea's women's lightweight rowing by winning the season's first competition, which was also the national team selection event.

In the lightweight single sculls final of the national team selection held on the 14th, Ahn Hee-ju recorded a time of 8 minutes and 38 seconds, becoming the only finalist to enter the 8-minute 30-second range, earning her a spot on the national team and confirming her participation in the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games to be held in China this September.

Following the national team selection, at the 65th National Rowing Championships, Ahn Hee-ju won the gold medal in the lightweight single sculls. Additionally, Ahn Hee-ju and Jang Min-i teamed up to win the silver medal in the lightweight double sculls. In the heavyweight single sculls, Kim So-young showcased her skills and earned the bronze medal.

The Pohang City Hall rowing team plans to participate in the Chungju Tangeumho Cup National Rowing Competition in May and will actively engage in mentoring activities with local university rowing teams throughout this year.

Hwang Sang-sik, Director of the Sports Industry Division, stated, “We are delighted that a newly joined athlete in Pohang this year has been selected for the national team and will compete in the Asian Games,” and added, “We send our congratulations to the athletes who achieved excellent results in the season's first competition.”

The Pohang City Hall Workplace Sports Team achieved notable results in the season's first competition, with the judo team winning 2 silver and 1 bronze medals, and the athletics team securing 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medals, brightening the outlook for the 2023 season filled with major sports events such as the Asian Games and the Universiade.