Chilgok-gun Middle School Girl Wins Championship with UDU Special Forces Spirit

“If It Doesn’t Work, Keep Going Until It Does”
Overcoming Runner-up Finish to Claim the Title in the Same Weight Class

Lim Hakyeong, a middle school wrestler from Chilgok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province (first-year student at Daegu Physical Education Middle School, age 13), has garnered attention after winning the National Wrestling Championship held in Cheorwon last March. After facing off against senior athletes and finishing as runner-up, he ultimately went on to claim the championship title.

The decision to compete in the 62kg weight class instead of his original 58kg category was due to an error made during the weight class application process. Although it was his first national tournament right after entering middle school, he advanced to the finals and faced a national team-level athlete in his age group.

The final match was closely contested. His opponent was two years older and had more experience, but Lim Hakyeong pressed on until the end. He held his ground in a fundamentals-based match centered around tackles, but ultimately had to settle for runner-up.

After the tournament, people around him advised him to move down to his original weight class. However, he did not accept this suggestion. Lim Hakyeong said, "I will not move down until I win," believing he needed to achieve results in the weight class he had chosen.

To celebrate winning the gold medal at the National Wrestling Championship, from the left: Park Geunyong, Match Director of Chilgok County Wrestling Association; his father, Lim Jonggu; Lim Hakyeong; Park Noun, Director of Chilgok County Wrestling Association; and Kim Jaegang, Wrestling Coach of Chilgok County Office, are posing for a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Chilgok County Office]

He went on to participate again in the 62kg category at the 4th Herald Business·The Korea Herald Cup National Wrestling Championship. At the tournament held on April 20, he pressured his opponent to the very end with a match strategy centered on tackles, and finally secured first place.

Even after winning the title, recommendations to lower his weight class continued. Lim Hakyeong maintained his stance, saying, "I will not move down until I beat the senior athlete I lost to."

His wrestling style is simple: he focuses on fundamentals centered around tackles. Even when his opponent attempts to defend, he pushes forward relentlessly to score points.

This attitude was largely influenced by his father. His father, Lim Jonggu (age 51), a graduate of UDU, often said, "Keep going until you succeed," and Lim Hakyeong naturally incorporated this mindset into his approach to matches.

Lim Hakyeong said, "I compete with the spirit of a soldier that I learned from my father," and added, "If something doesn't work, I believe the most important thing is to endure and keep going until I win."

Coach Hwang Jeongwon of Daegu Physical Education Middle School commented, "Since entering middle school, his defensive skills have improved greatly, and his fundamentals are solid." In the recent fitness test for new students at Daegu Physical Education Middle School, he ranked first among both boys and girls.

In Chilgok-gun, where Lim Hakyeong was born and raised, organizations such as the Chilgok-gun Wrestling Association, the Alumni Association of Yakdong Elementary School, and the Gisan-myeon Development Council put up banners congratulating his victory.

Han Younghee, acting mayor of Chilgok-gun, said, "The challenge and achievement shown by Lim Hakyeong is a great source of pride for the region," and added, "We will continue to support him so that he can freely pursue his dreams in the future."

Lim Hakyeong stated, "I want to be selected for the national team, win a gold medal at the Olympics, and fulfill my duty to national defense by enlisting in UDU." He went on to say, "After that, I hope to become a YouTuber and help those in need."

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