Hwang Kyu-yeon Recaptures Baek-du Title

Twenty-seven-year old Hwang Kyu-yeon of Shin-chang Construction has come back to win the Baekdu weight championship. After being hampered by a back injury for some time, he returned for the championship after two and a half years.

Baekdu Weight of 2004 Cheon-an Korean Wrestling Championship was held in Ryu Kwan-soon Gymnasium, Cheon-an on April 8. Hwang beat “Throne in Sand Ground” Lee Tae-hyun, who sought his 17th championship in Baekdu weight, with 2 wins and 2 draws, capturing the title in 30 months since Young-am Championship in October of 2001. It was his fourth Baek-du championship.

Hwang took the first round when he counterattacked with an armlock trip against Lee’s belly throw. After drawing for overtime (two minutes) in the second and third rounds, Hwang threw Lee down to the sand with a release throw, finishing the game.

2m 18cm’s “Techno Goliath” Choi Hong-man (LG Investment Security), who attempted for his fourth consecutive championship, kneeled down on 2m 17cm’s “Original Goliath” Kim Young-hyun (Shin-chang Construction) in the quarter final. Kim Young-hyun was also defeated by Lee Tae-hyun in the semi-final. Hwang advanced to the final by reigning over second year pro, Park Young-bae (Hyundai Heavy Industry) in the semi-final.

Hwang said, “I suffered from a bulging disk for two years. I was going to quit wrestling after I was beaten by Lee Seong-won, who is one weight class lighter in the Strongest Wrestler Championship of last year, but I was encouraged by my parents and girlfriend who promised to marry me. I had hard training last winter and I am confident now.”

Results in Baek-du weight= 1. Hwang Kyu-yeon (Shin-chang Construction) 2. Lee Tae-hyun (Hyundai Heavy Industry) 3. Kim Young-hyun (Shin-chang Construction) 4. Park Young-bae (Hyundai Heavy Industry) 5. Choi Hong-man 6. Kim Kyoung-soo (LG Investment Security) 7. Jeong Min-hyuk (Shin-chang Construction) 8. Yeom Won-joon (LG Investment Security)

Soon-Il Kwon stt77@donga.com