South Korea's first Olympic female boxer heads to Paris for round two

South Korean boxer Oh Yeon-ji trains in Paris on July 21. [NEWS1]

With the Paris Olympics starting this weekend, boxers Lim Ae-ji and Oh Yeon-ji will be representing South Korea for the second consecutive Olympic Games.

Lim and Oh made history by becoming the first South Korean women to qualify for the boxing competition at the Tokyo Olympics, but neither made it beyond the round of 16.

Boxers are divided into weight classes and one gold, one silver and two bronze medals are awarded for each weight class.

The men's weight classes are 51 kg, 57 kg, 63.5 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, 92 kg and over 92 kg.

The women's weight classes are 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 66kg and 75kg.

The 25-year-old Lim will compete in the women's 54kg class, while the 33-year-old Oh will compete in the women's 60kg class.

Im Ae-ji will compete in the round of 16 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. [YONHAP]

Oh was a two-time Asian amateur boxing champion before winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games and qualifying for her first Olympic Games in Tokyo, then going on to win a third Asian Boxing Championships gold in 2022 and a bronze medal at the Women's World Championships in New Delhi in 2023.

Lim will compete in a lighter weight class than the 57kg he competed in at the Tokyo Games.

Qualifying for the women's 54kg and 60kg classes will begin on July 27th.

South Korea has qualified for boxing at every Olympic Games since 1984, but has not qualified the men's team for the Tokyo or Paris Olympics.

Each bout will feature three three-minute rounds with a one-minute break in between.

Boxers must wear 10- or 12-ounce gloves, depending on their weight class, and score points by landing punches to their opponent's stomach and head.

In the Olympics, all boxers are amateur level.

Boxing requires speed and agility as fighters must dodge punches and get into advantageous positions.

South Korea has won 20 Olympic medals in boxing, including three gold medals.

Mary Yang, Kevin Chan [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]