South Korean MMA youth national team athletes are embarking on a quest for gold medals at international competitions.

The MMA youth national team affiliated with the Korea MMA Association will participate in the 1st AMMA U-18 Asian Championship held at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Manama, Bahrain, from the 26th to the 28th.

This tournament is organized by the Asian MMA Association (AMMA). The Asian MMA Association, being a direct agency of the Asian Olympic Council (OCA), which oversees the Asian Games, allows member organizations of the Asian MMA Association to compete in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games next year. The Korea MMA Association holds eligibility for participation in the Asian Games as a member organization.

The youth national team departed for Bahrain through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 23rd. The team, led by Director General Kim Seong-tae, consists of Song Hyun-bin (–65kg modern) and Kim Seok-hwan (–70kg modern).

The judging panel includes Judge Yang Seo-woo from the International Technical Official (ITO) referee committee, along with National Technical Official (NTO) judges Jeon Seong-won and Seo Hye-rin.

The team arriving on the 24th will go through coach and player registration, photo sessions, and health checks before entering the preliminary rounds starting on the 26th. The team is scheduled to return to Korea after completing the tournament by the 28th.

Starting with the 1st Asian MMA Championship in 2023, the Korea MMA Association has seen its national teams win medals at all international tournaments hosted by AMMA every year. For this tournament, Korea MMA Association President Jeong Mun-hong, along with the Wolgot Hanwoo Village Branch 4 and Rakai Korea, are providing generous sponsorship, and the youth national team is expected to perform well, hoping to secure medals.

Director General Kim Seong-tae said, “President Jeong Mun-hong and many others have supported us for this tournament. The team is more passionate than ever and well-prepared. We will return with good results. We appreciate your support.”

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