'8 wins in 8 debut matches' boxing prospect's first loss…Hana wants to get in the ring more often

After the match, proudly victorious 14-year-old Korean boxer Hong Na was overcome with tears. She had been crying for nearly 30 minutes without stopping. This was Hong Na's first loss in a series of 8 wins, known as "8전8승" (8 wins, 8 matches). Despite this defeat, Hong Na did not give up. She told reporters, "On the contrary, I want to participate in more matches."

Hong Na competed in the "Queens Arena" women's life sports boxing tournament at an Ansan hotel on the 22nd, where she faced a 23-year-old professional boxer. Hong Na, who had previously won twice in this tournament, had just achieved an 8-8 record before her first loss. In addition to the disappointment of the broken record, the coach, Kim Jong-woo, said, "Even if you win, not all matches are satisfying, and if you lose, it can still be a great performance.

Today, although we lost to a very strong opponent, Hong Na played to her potential." He added, "Once you experience a loss, the burden will disappear, and I believe Hong Na can show more of her true self." Many athletes acknowledge that losses are valuable experiences, but for Hong Na, they are even more precious. The 5'6", 132-pound Korean national, born and raised in Korea, dreams of becoming the first Korean to receive the Taekwondo medal.

However, as a foreigner, Hong Na cannot even participate in elite tournaments. She only competes in amateur life sports boxing tournaments, where only Korean nationals participate. In recent years, the number of immigrants has increased, leading to more cases like Hong Na. Even in her home city of Gunsan, immigrant middle schoolers attend the same boxing club as her.

However, they too are barred from elite tournaments. While there are petitions to the Korean Boxing Federation about this issue, the door remains closed. The rules are not restrictive. The federation's competition registration rules state that foreign athletes can be registered for competitions within the scope of the international boxing federation's rules and domestic laws.

But with elite tournaments, the public opposition from the federation and outside forces is preventing foreign athletes from registering for competitions. After her defeat in May, Hong Na filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, claiming that the restriction on foreign athletes competing in elite tournaments is a human rights violation.

Despite her first loss, Hong Na expressed her desire to continue competing, stating that it was an opportunity for significant growth. As she watched the matches in the afternoon, the victorious expression on her face shone brightly.