Inwoo Park (23-Amurta) won a bronze medal in men’s combat sambo.
Park won a bronze medal in the Combat Sambo -71 kg category at the 2023 Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships at the Birine Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan on Tuesday (Nov. 10).
The former youth national team member completed his military service in January. It took him just three months to earn a spot on the national team.
Park faced India’s Pandey Prince Kumar in the first round. Opening with a kick, Inwoo carefully picked his spots. After exchanging punches, he grabbed his opponent by the collar and landed a knee kick to the face. He then grabbed his opponent by the waist and scored the first point.
Park In-woo was down a point to his 스포츠토토 opponent’s takedown, but he was undeterred. He countered with a knee kick and then unleashed a barrage of punches to his opponent’s face, earning the first warning for not actively defending.
Park attacked his opponent with a variety of attack patterns. He used flying knees and punches followed by waist strikes. It didn’t count, but it got him going. Park unleashed another barrage of punches, drawing a second warning. The two warnings earned Park a point.
With a little more breathing room, Inwoo earned another point for a takedown just before the end of the match. With a 3-1 victory, Park advanced to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Park faced Kazakhstan’s Haisa Amanzol, a Sambo powerhouse. While Park was back on the mat just over an hour later, Amanjol started with a physical advantage due to a bye.
Park set the tone early on, even against her taller opponent. He scored two points by blocking his opponent’s takedown attempts. When Amanzol tried to strike again, he responded with a knee kick. He followed up with a takedown to take a point, but his opponent immediately countered with a takedown of his own.
Park In-woo’s attack caused Amanzole’s nose to bleed. The match was briefly stopped to allow for medical attention. After the break, the game took a strange turn. The physical difference between the two players began to show. Park In-woo, who was down by one point to his opponent, attempted an armbar but was unsuccessful.
Park allowed her opponent to tie the match and then gave up two more points on a submission attempt. Park attempted a takedown, but his opponent countered and gave up two more points. The match ended with an armbar.
Meanwhile, on the 11th, Shin Jae-yong (29-Gwanak-gu Sambo Federation) and Lee Seung-an (18-Gyeongnam Sambo Federation/Trigger Sambo Gym) will compete in the -58kg Sport Sambo category.