'Korea's First Female Boxing Medalist' Lim Ae-ji Advances to Boxing Semifinals... Secures Bronze [Paris Olympics]

Advancing to Boxing Semifinals
First Ever Medalist in Korean Women's Boxing History

Im Ae-ji (25, Hwasun County Office) became the first Korean female boxer to win an Olympic medal. Korean boxing added an Olympic medal after 12 years.

On the 1st (local time), at the North Arena in Paris, France, during the 2024 Paris Olympics women's boxing 54kg quarterfinals, Korea's Lim Ae-ji cheered after winning by decision against Colombia's Yenny Marcela Arias Casta?eda.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 2nd (Korean time), Im Ae-ji won a 3-2 decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29, 29-28, 28-29) against Yeni Marcela Arias Casta?eda (Colombia) in the women's 54kg quarterfinals held at the North Arena in Paris, France.

By advancing to the semifinals, Im Ae-ji secured a bronze medal. In boxing, both losing semifinalists are awarded bronze medals without a bronze medal match. This is the first Olympic boxing medal for Korea since Han Sun-chul won silver in the lightweight division at the 2012 London Olympics, 12 years ago.

In the early stages of the match, Im Ae-ji maintained distance from her opponent and landed effective punches with her signature left straight whenever she saw openings as her opponent aggressively pressed forward. As a left-handed outboxer, Im Ae-ji led throughout the match and skillfully defended against her opponent’s aggressive attacks in the final third round to finish the bout.

On the 1st (local time), at the North Arena in Paris, France, in the women's 54kg quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics boxing event, Korea's Lim Ae-ji is competing against Colombia's Yeni Marcela Arias Casta?eda.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Im Ae-ji will be recorded as the first female Korean boxer to win an Olympic medal. Women’s boxing has been an official Olympic event since the 2012 London Olympics.

Bang Cheol-mi (North Korea), the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games women’s boxing gold medalist competing in the same weight class as Im Ae-ji, also won a 4-0 decision against Widad Betal (Morocco) on the same day. If both Im Ae-ji and Bang Cheol-mi advance to the final, a North-South Korea showdown will take place.

Im Ae-ji will face Hatice Akba? of Turkey at 11:14 PM (Korean time) on the 4th in a match to decide who advances to the final.