Desperate Measures and Disqualification: South Korean Judoka Misses Weight by 100g After Coaches' Costly Blunder

Summary A heartbreaking blunder by the coaching staff has cost South Korean national judoka Jung Su-jin her shot at a medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Competing in the women’s 48kg category, Jung was disqualified ahead of her Round of 16 match after missing the required weight limit by a mere 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces). The devastating disqualification unfolded not because of an athlete's negligence, but due to incorrect information given by her own team leaders. In elite judo competitions, athletes undergo an official weigh-in the evening before the contest. In addition, international rules dictate a random weight check on the morning of competition day for select athletes. To account for normal rehydration and meal intake, competitors chosen for the random morning weigh-in are permitted a 5% buffer over their division limit—allowing Jung to weigh up to 50.4 kilograms for the 48kg class. Jung had already cleared her official weigh-in the previous evening and kept her weight right around 50.4kg on the morning of the match. However, a critical communication error shattered her preparation. Her head coach and assistant coach misread the official random weigh-in list, mistakenly informing Jung that only a male teammate was selected and that she was exempt. Trusting the staff, Jung—who had undergone grueling weight cutting—ate roughly 300g of rice porridge (juk), 200g of bananas, and 600g of sports drink to regain strength. With just 15 minutes left before weigh-in closed, she was abruptly alerted that her name was indeed on the random check roster. In a frantic, desperate effort to drop weight in minutes, Jung forced herself to throw up the food she had just consumed, cut off her hair, and sprinted non-stop. Tragically, she still registered 100 grams over the allowable limit, resulting in an automatic disqualification. Adding to the emotional distress, Jung revealed that a coach later urged her on the morning of their flight back to Korea to keep quiet so the matter could "end peacefully." In Korean athletics, where vertical hierarchy dictates that athletes defer completely to their coaching staff (jidojin), following coach instructions is deeply ingrained. Head coach Jung Sung-sook acknowledged the leadership team's grave error, and the Korea Judo Association issued a formal public apology, pledging a thorough investigation and disciplinary measures upon the delegation's return.