Jang Hong Mi and Kim Jong Kum won their third-in-a-row titles in the DPR Korean National Championships

The DPR Korean National Boxing Championships was held in Pyongyang where the women and men elite boxers fought for the medals. Jang Hong Mi and Kim Jong Kum won third-in-a-row titles in the women part of the DPR Korean National Boxing Championships while among the men athletes their two rising stars as Ham Jong Hyok and Jo Hyo Nam both bagged their well-deserved gold medals.
DPR Korea has got excellent traditions in boxing and due their difficulties ASBC President Mr. Serik Konakbayev supported their participation in the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Ho Chi Minh City where their female talents claimed several medals in November.
The first gold medal in the women part of the DPR Korean National Championships was taken by Pyongyang’s Ryong Hong Mi who defeated Choe Ji Hyon in the final of the light flyweight (48kg). Jang Hong Mi of Commercial Ministry Club was crowned in 2015 and also in 2016 therefore she was the favourite at the flyweight (51kg) which she realized following her success over Han Kyong.
Railway’s Jang Hyon Suk won her first national title in 2015 but last year she was unable to get any medal in their National Championships therefore she was hungry for her second success and defeated a top rival, ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships silver medallist U Yong Gum in the final of the bantamweight (54kg).
Ri Ok Byol of 4.25 Boxing Club is a new face in DPR Korea’s boxing but she was able to capture the gold at the featherweight (57kg) after beating Yam Chun Sim in the final. Railway’s Jo Son Hwa achieved silver medal in the 2016 edition of the DPR Korean Women’s National Championships but this time she was able to beat Ri Ok Kyong in the final of the lightweight (60kg).
Kumgangsan’s Sim Jong Sim also was runner-up in the 2016 edition as Jo Son Hwa but she was able to change the brightness of the medal into gold following her success over Kim Ok Sim. Kumgangsan’s Kim Jong Kum won the titles in 2015 and in 2016 as well and she defended her throne in the new edition as well after beating Kim Mi Hyang in the final of the welterweight (69kg).
Kim Jin Son of 4.25 Boxing Club achieved bronze medals at the welterweight (69kg) in 2015 and also in 2016 but she moved up to the Olympic middleweight (75kg) and took her first title in Pyongyang. Hyon Hyang Mi of 4.25 Boxing Club won the title at the women’s heavyweight (+81kg) in 2015 but following that she moved down one category and defeated Choe Ok Hwa in the final of the DPR Korean National Championships.
DPR Korea has got strong traditions at the men’s light flyweight (49kg) where Umakhanov Memorial Tournament winner Kim Jang Ryong of 4.25 Boxing Club took the title following her previous bronze and silver medals in the national events. Kim used the best fighting distance against Pak Sin Il of Kim Chaek Industry University Club and won the first gold in the men’s competition.
Ham Jong Hyok of Kim Chaek Industry University Club competed in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, in the Bangkok 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and several other international events in Russia, Mongolia, China and in the Philippines. The 22-year-old boxer, who moved up to the flyweight (52kg), won his fourth national title following his success over Ri Sung Jin in the final.
Jo Hyo Nam of 4.25 Boxing Club is only a 20-year-old hope who won the Ulaanbaatar Box Cup this June following his silver medal at the Thailand International Invitational Tournament in April. The young bantamweight (56kg) talent amazed the judges with his strong performance against Ri Sung Hyok of Sopaksu Boxing Club and won the title in Pyongyang.
Myong Ju Chea of 4.25 Boxing Club is also a young hope in DPR Korea’s boxing life but he was able to shock the favourite, Ulaanbaatar Box Cup silver medallist Choe Chol Man in the final of the lightweight (60kg). The 4.25 Boxing Club’s next success was achieved by Ri Song Kuk who defeated Kim Song Yun in the final of the men’s light welterweight (64kg).
The welterweight (69kg) gold medal went to Ryang Myong Ho of 4.25 Boxing Club who triumphed over Kwan Chol Kuk. Jang Hyok of Kim Chaek Industry University Club did revenge due his previous loss to Song Myong Su in the final of the middleweight (75kg). Hong Chung Il of Amrokgang won his second title after the 2015 edition following success over So Jin Song.
Kim Song Il of 4.25 Boxing Club defended his throne at the heavyweight (91kg) and after the 2015 and 2016 editions, he was too strong Pak Chung Song. A veteran boxer, tall Ri Jin Hyok of Sopaksu Boxing Club, who competed in the Bangkok 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships, dominated the final of the super heavyweight (+91kg) where he was too strong for Kim Kum Song.

List of the winners in the DPR Korean National Championships
Women’s 48kg: Ryong Hong Mi
Women’s 51kg: Jang Hong Mi
Women’s 54kg: Jang Hyon Suk
Women’s 57kg: Ri Ok Byol
Women’s 60kg: Jo Son Hwa
Women’s 64kg: Sim Jong Sim
Women’s 69kg: Kim Jong Kum
Women’s 75kg: Kim Jin Son
Women’s 81kg: Hyon Hyang Mi
Men’s 49kg: Kim Jang Ryong
Men’s 52kg: Ham Jong Hyok
Men’s 56kg: Jo Hyo Nam
Men’s 60kg: Myong Ju Chea
Men’s 64kg: Ri Song Kuk
Men’s 69kg: Ryang Myong Ho
Men’s 75kg: Jang Hyok
Men’s 81kg: Hong Chung Il
Men’s 91kg: Kim Song Il
Men’s +91kg: Ri Jin Hyok