Hongcheon has established itself as the MECARO of 3x3 basketball.
'The NH Nonghyup Bank FIBA 3x3 Hongcheon Challenger 2025' grandly opened on the 9th at the Hongcheon Indoor Gymnasium. This tournament, hosted by the Korea 3x3 Basketball Federation (KXO), Hongcheon County, and the Hongcheon County Sports Council, is the first of its kind in the country to be held three consecutive years.
The only FIBA 3x3 professional circuit tournament in the country was held in Hongcheon on the 9th and 10th. Starting with the 2023 tournament, Hongcheon has hosted the 3x3 international Challenger tournament for three consecutive years. The NH Nonghyup Bank 2025 KXO 3x3 Hongcheon Light Quest, which offers qualifications for the FIBA 3x3 Challenger, will continue on the 11th. Hongcheon became a festival of 3x3 basketball for three days.
This is the only FIBA 3x3 professional circuit tournament held in the country in 2025. This tournament saw participation from 16 teams at the highest level in history, including from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Serbia, France, the Czech Republic, and Australia.
Lithuania's Raudonbaris, who won the Challenger trophy two years ago in Hongcheon, along with Rifa (Bahrain), who won last year's Shanghai World Tour and Pristina Challenger, and strong European teams like Liman (Serbia) and Lausanne (Switzerland) also visited Hongcheon.
The opening ceremony held on the 10th was attended by local figures, including Shin Young-jae, mayor of Hongcheon County, Park Yeong-rok, chairman of the council, Shin Eun-seop, president of the Sports Council, Yoo Eung-nam, head of the Provincial Sports Council, and Son Jeong-soo, president of the Gangwon-do Baseball and Softball Association.
Key figures in the basketball community, including Choi Hee-am, chairman of the FIBA 3x3 Hongcheon Challenger International Tournament Organizing Committee, Park Geon-yeon, president of KXO, Kim Cheol-hoe, president of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Basketball Association, Moon Kyung-cheol, president of the Hongcheon County Basketball Association, Choi Jae-seok, vice president of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Basketball Association, and Kim Jin-hwan, president of the Hongcheon County Youth Federation & Organizing Committee vice chairman, were in attendance. A plaque of appreciation was awarded to Kim Chang-hwan, chairman of the Korean 3X3 basketball referee committee.
Shin Young-jae, mayor of Hongcheon County, stated, "Hosting the Hongcheon Challenger has a tremendous promotional effect for Hongcheon. Hongcheon has become more widely known even abroad, increasing its brand value. I hope the athletes who gathered from around the world achieve good results."
The celebratory stage was also splendid. The only basketball freestyle girl group, W Girls, showcased a stunning performance. KXO ambassador singer Kim Gwang-jin passionately sang his hit song "The Magic Castle." Popular influencer "Brick Grandpa," with 1.8 million followers, energized the atmosphere with a two-person dance performance.
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