Following Japan's dominance in the Tokyo Grand Slam last week, South Korea will be hoping to use their home advantage in the popular tourist resort to good effect and build a good medal haul in this last event of the year.

Looking to set the hosts off to a medal winning opening day will be under 48 kilogram top seed Bo Kyeong Jeong.

The 22-year-old is at her explosive best on her home continent but made significant inroads on the World Judo Tour this year when she captured silver at the Dusseldorf Grand Prix.

After securing bronze medals in Tokyo last week Da-Woon Joung and Seongyeon Kim come into their respective categories as top seeds and will be looking to make it a memorable week for the hosts.

Before today's draw, International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer received a crystal trophy in celebration of his election as President of SportAccord ©IJF Media



Gyeong-Mi Jeong will be hoping to continue the form that saw her win silver in Tokyo last week as she leads Korea's medal hopes on Friday.

The over 78kg category sees four South Korean athletes competing for the gold medal with World Championship bronze medallist Jung Eun Lee the favourite to dominate the contest.

The men's under 60kg and under 81kg categories are the busiest of the competition with 17 judoka taking to the tatami in each.

Mongolia's Amartuvshin Dashdavaa is the favourite in the lighter category with Korea's Olympic champion Jae-Bum Kim returning to action in the latter.

Kim has been working as a coach for the national team this year but could not resist a return to action on home soil.

Delegations from 30 countries gathered for the draw for South Korea's first judo Grand Prix at the Jeju Grand Hotel ©IJF Media

The Grand Prix will conclude with the men's heavyweight category where Korea's Kim Sung-Min will hope to secure his second gold medal in as many weeks.

Kim was one of only three non-Japanese athletes to win gold in Tokyo last week and looks confident to repeat this feat in his home country.

Following the draw, which took place today, IJF President Marius Vizer was handed two awards by Korean Olympic Association President Jung-Haeng Kim.

The first was a crystal trophy engraved with the IJF logo to celebrate Vizer's successful election as President of SportAccord in May and the second, a miniature version of the ancient golden crown of Baek-je, believed to be the royal headgear of the kings, queens, and nobility of the Baek-Je Kingdom.

To watch the latest action on Judo TV click here

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2013: Japan dominate Tokyo Grand Slam despite missing out on clean sweep
November 2013: World champions ousted as Japanese domination continues in Tokyo
November 2013: Golden day for Japan as it completes clean sweep of titles at Tokyo Grand Slam
November 2013: Judoka arrive in Tokyo to do battle at final Grand Slam of the year