Pang Chol Mi and Won Un Gyong are aiming high in the Paris Olympics
DPR Korea will return to the boxing events of the Olympic Games after 12-years of break and two of their female stars qualified for Paris through the Asian Games.
The North Koreans competed two out of the three qualification events, firstly in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, secondly in the last chance qualifier in Bangkok a few weeks ago.
DPR Korea joined to the Olympic movement in 1972 when their team quickly earned medals including in the boxing competition of the Munich edition.
The North Korean boxers competed or qualified to nine editions of the Olympic Games between 1972 and 2012 in the past. Their overall boxing performance in the Olympic Games is two gold, three silver and three bronze medals and they are among the best Asian nations on this list.
The North Koreans attended first with two boxers at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games and among them Kim U Gil claimed silver medal at the light flyweight (48kg).
The first North Korean who achieved the Olympic title was Gu Jong Jo who defeated all of his rivals at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. Li Byong Uk was finalist also in the Canadian venue and achieved silver medal at the light flyweight (48kg) and he repeated that performance in the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games.
The second North Korean Olympic title was achieved by Choe Chol Su at the flyweight (51kg) in the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Li Gwang Sik achieved bronze in 1992, while Kim Un Chol also took an unexpected podium place in 2000. Kim Song Guk’s silver from the 2004 Athens edition was DPR Korea’s last Olympic medal in boxing.
North Korea’s best female boxer, Pang Chol Mi was Women’s World Champion, Asian Games silver medallist in the past and she returned to the competitions at the women’s bantamweight (54kg). Pang Chol Mi used her excellent technical skills to win the Asian Games in Hangzhou and she is also a favourite in the Paris Olympics. Won Un Gyong, their Women’s Junior World Champion from 2015, moved up to the lightweight (60kg) in the recent years and the 24-year-old boxer also returned to the international stage after a break as Pang Chol Mi. Her excellent performance in the Asian Games guaranteed her participation in the Paris Olympic Games.
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