Seoul: The 2024 Olympic boxing bronze medalist Im Ae-ji will miss next month's Asian Games after suffering an injury during training, the sport's national federation said Thursday. An official with the Boxing Association of Korea confirmed that Im tore a ligament in her left knee during a recent sparring session and underwent surgery, ruling her out of the Asian Games, which will begin on September 19 in Japan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Im had been scheduled to compete in the women's 54-kilogram division. The 27-year-old athlete made history by winning bronze in the same weight class at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first South Korean female boxer to win an Olympic medal. Her previous appearances at the Asian Games in 2018 and 2023 ended with losses in her opening matches.
Im expressed her disappointment over missing the prestigious event, writing on her social media page, "I am devastated that I will not be able to compete, and I hope you will all cheer for the rest of our athletes." In light of Im's absence, the boxing association announced that Yang Yi-young, the runner-up to Im in the national team trials, will step in to replace her at the Asian Games.