Judo Lee Jun-hwan Wins Bronze Medal at Portuguese Grand Prix… Won 3 Consecutive Competitions

Lee Jun-hwan (Yongin University), the star of the Korean judo men’s 81kg class,

continued his momentum by winning a bronze medal in his first international competition this year.

Jun-hwan Lee won a bout against Japan’s Naoto Izawa in the bronze medal match in the men’s 81kg class at the 2024 International Judo Federation (IJF) Portuguese Grand Prix held in Odivelas, Portugal on the 28th (Korean time).

Lee Jun-hwan continued to win three consecutive tournaments,

following the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (silver medal) and the 2023 Tokyo Grand Slam (gold medal).

The results of the semifinals were disappointing. 파워볼

Lee Jun-hwan lost half of his thigh hooks to Japan’s Yoshito Hojo,

whom he met in the semifinals, and was pushed to the bronze medal match.

Lee Jun-hwan shook off his disappointment in the bronze medal match.

From the beginning of the match, he pushed Izawa with aggressive attacks.

Izawa continued to play passively and received instruction at 1 minute and 31 seconds into the game.

Lee Jun-hwan continued to lead the game and won half of the game by successfully landing a left-hand throw at 1 minute and 46 seconds.

Lee Jun-hwan was unstoppable.

At 2 minutes and 44 seconds after the start of the game,

he successfully landed a heel strike with his right foot, knocking down his opponent’s left foot,

earning an extra half point and winning the bout.

As of today, Korea has won one gold medal (women’s 57kg class Heo Mimi) and one bronze medal.

On the 29th, men’s top heavyweight star Kim Min-jong (Yangpyeong County Office) and women’s heavyweight ace Kim Hayun (Ansan City Hall),

a gold medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games, will participate and aim for additional medals.