Olympic boxing medalist to miss Asian Games due to injury

Im Ae-ji, a bronze medalist from the 2024 Olympic boxing tournament, will be unable to participate in the upcoming Asian Games due to an injury sustained during training, according to the national Boxing Association of Korea. The 27-year-old athlete suffered a torn ligament in her left knee during a sparring session and subsequently underwent surgery, which will prevent her from competing in the Asian Games scheduled to commence on September 19 in Japan.

Im had been set to compete in the women's 54-kilogram division, a category where she had previously won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making her the first South Korean female boxer to claim an Olympic medal. Despite her two prior appearances in the Asian Games in 2018 and 2023, where she lost her first matches, Im expressed her disappointment via her social media platform, stating that she hopes her fellow athletes receive support.

In response to her absence, the boxing association announced that Yang Yi-young, the runner-up in the national team trials, will take her place at the upcoming Asian Games.