Gurye National Women's Cheonhajangsa and University Jangsa Ssireum Tournament Successfully Concluded

Kim Si-woo from Gurye County Office Wins Maehwa Class

Seol Yuna Wins Student Division Mugunghwa Class, etc.

The 15th Gurye National Women's Cheonhajangsa and University Jangsa Ssireum Tournament, held at the Gurye Indoor Gymnasium from June 8 to 11, concluded successfully amid the enthusiastic support of about 4,000 spectators.

This tournament was divided into women's weight class and Cheonhajangsa divisions, university weight class and team divisions, and student divisions, with around 500 participants including athletes and officials, creating a heated atmosphere. On the first day of the tournament, a delegation of 23 representatives from Son Tra District, Da Nang City, Vietnam, attended the ssireum competition, serving as an opportunity to promote ssireum internationally.

Women's Division Champion
Photo by Gurye-gun

In the women's Cheonhajangsa division, Choi Heehwa from the Gurye County Office Ssireum Team and Lee Dahyun from Geoje City Office faced off in a fierce match, with Lee Dahyun narrowly becoming Cheonhajangsa by 3 to 2.

In the women's first division weight class champions, Kim Siwoo (Gurye) won the Maehwa class (under 60kg), and Park Minji won the Gukhwa class. In the second division weight class champions, Lee Hyunmin won the Maehwa class, Park Jiyu won the Gukhwa class, and Lee Hyunah won the Mugunghwa class. In the women's student division, Seol Yoona (Gurye Bandalgom Ssireum Sports Club) won the Mugunghwa class (under 80kg).

Notably, in this tournament, Kim Siwoo of the Gurye County Office Ssireum Team won her first-ever championship in the Maehwa class (under 60kg), and in the student division, Seol Yoona (3rd year at Gurye Natural Science High School) won her first-ever championship in the Mugunghwa class (under 80kg), brightening the future as the birthplace of women's ssireum.

County Governor Kim Sunho said that the 15th Gurye National Women's Cheonhajangsa Tournament “has become a competition that further solidifies the foundation for the development of women's ssireum,” and added, “We will provide unwavering support to develop ssireum, which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and to nurture the Gurye County Office Ssireum Team.”

Meanwhile, the 104th National Sports Festival ssireum competition will be held at the Gurye Indoor Gymnasium from October 13 to 19, lasting seven days.

Gurye = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.