The South Korean teenagers shocked their opponents in the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi

The 1982 edition of the boxing tournament of the Asian Games was held in Delhi, India from November 19 until December 4. The event was the ninth Asian Games and the eighth boxing tournament in the history of the multisport event. The South Korean teenagers shocked the Asian elite in Delhi where DPR Korea recorded their best ever performance in the history of the Games.
South Korea topped the medal rankings in 1962, in 1966, in 1970, in 1974, in 1978 and their boxers continued their hegemony in Delhi as well. South Korea achieved finally seven titles in Delhi but DPR Korea, India and Thailand were also able to get gold medals in the 1982 Asian Games. South Korea received the right to host the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in 1981 and one year later their strong development shined in Delhi.
The first boxing tournament was held in 7 men weight classes in Manila in 1954 but from the second edition boxers could attend in 10 different categories. The Olympic Council of Asia raised the number of the weight classes up to 11 in the 1966 edition and also added a new category raising to 12 the divisions in 1982. Boxers could attend in the 1982 edition from the 48kg up to the +91kg weight categories.
Altogether 109 boxers from 19 countries attended in the boxing tournament of the 19782 Asian Games in Bangkok. The participating countries in the 1982 editions were the following nations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Hong Kong, host India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Yemen, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Thailand.
South Korea’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Heo Yong Mo was only 17 by the time of the 1982 Asian Games but he was able to beat Philippines’ Efren Tabanas in the first final of the whole event at the light flyweight (48kg). Heo will become later two-time Asian Champion and he was quarter-finalist in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.
Moon Sung Kil was well-known as a great knockout puncher who won 164 contests by KO out of his 219 victories during his amateur career. The South Korean boxer was only 19 by the time of the 1982 Asian Games but Thailand’s Wangchai Pongsri was not able to stop him in the final of the bantamweight (54kg) in Delhi.
South Korea’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Kim Dong Kil had to meet in the final of the light welterweight (63.5kg) with Thailand’s future Olympic Games silver medallist Dhawee Umponmaha in Delhi. Kim landed several big punches in the second round and the referee stopped their world class final confirming the RSC victory of the South Korean teenager.
DPR Korea also impressed in the 1982 Asian Games, three of their boxers as Jo Ryon Sik (57kg), Jong Jo Ung (60kg) and Cho Bong Kil (+91kg) defeated South Korean and Pakistani opponents in the finals. The host country achieved one title in Delhi, Kaur Singh was able to beat Iraq’s Ismail Khalil in the final of the heavyweight (91kg).

Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/