Japanese-born judoka wants to fly S. Korean flag in Paris

Born in Tokyo to a Korean father and a Japanese mother, judoka Huh Mi-mi now wears the South Korean flag with pride. Competing in the women's -57 kilograms, Huh has excelled since deciding to represent South Korea, rather than Japan, in 2021. She won her senior debut at an International Judo Federation (IJF) Grand Slam event in Tbilisi, Georgia, in June 2022, and reached the semifinals of the world championships that same year. This year, Huh won an IJF Grand Prix event in January and then finished second at the Asian championships in April. Huh's development reached new heights last month in Abu Dhabi, where she won her first world title by defeating two-time champion and world No. 1 from Canada, Christa Deguchi, in the final. Huh became the first South Korean woman to win a world title since 1995. But the Olympic Games are a different animal, something that has dawned on Huh, world No. 3, as she gears up for her Olympic debut in Paris this summer. But the 21-year-old with an easy smile isn't fazed. "Th e Olympics are such a big event that I feel a bit nervous. But I will prepare for it the best I can," Huh told reporters during the national team's open training session at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, some 85 kilometers southeast of Seoul. "I'd love to win the gold medal," Huh continued in her halting but improving Korean. "I used to think winning a medal at the Olympics would be so difficult. But after winning the world title, I feel more confident." Huh has said she chose to renounce her Japanese citizenship and chose Korean nationality to honor a dying wish of her grandmother. A descendant of an independence fighter from the Japanese colonial period, Huh said she understands the significance of representing South Korea internationally. "I am competing for South Korea because of what my grandmother told me, and I still think of her quite a bit," Huh said. "If she saw me now, I think she'd be proud of me." Huh said she will have to overcome "many rivals" to win a medal in Paris. De guchi will be out to avenge her world championships loss to Huh. Fellow Canadian Jessica Klimkait, world No. 2, will be going after her second straight medal after taking bronze in Tokyo in 2021. Sarah-Leonie Cysique of France, who won silver three years ago, will have the backing of the home crowd in her medal pursuit. In addition to the high level of competition, Huh has been dealing with much greater public scrutiny since winning that world title in May. Huh said it will take nothing but hard work to overcome her challenges. "Honestly, I feel a bit of pressure," Huh said sheepishly. "But if I keep putting in the work every day, I think I can win the gold medal." And how would she feel if she saw the South Korean flag, the Taegeukgi, from the top of the podium in Paris? "I haven't imagined that yet, but if that happens, I think I'll be really happy," Huh said. Source: Yonhap News Agency