Head coach of the Korean women's national judo team Kim Mi-jung, left, and Hwang Hee-tae, head coach of the men's squad, get ready before an open training session at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, June 13. Yonhap

Korea has been shut out of gold medals in judo at each of the past two Olympics. At the Tokyo Games three years ago, Korea finished with one silver and two bronze medals, its worst showing since 1976.

Vibes leading into this year's Paris Olympics are much different, though, with Korea having produced two world champions last month — Kim Min-jong in the men's +100 kilograms and Huh Mi-mi in the women's -57 kilograms.

Coaches for the men's and women's teams, Hwang Hee-tae and Kim Mi-jung, respectively, said Thursday they are confident the gold medal drought can end in the French capital this summer.

"We didn't win gold at the last two Olympics, and if we get shut out again this time, I think it will spell doom for judo in Korea," Hwang told reporters during an opening training session at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, 85 kilometers southeast of Seoul. "We will try to lay the foundation for a new chapter in Korean judo."

Hwang, the 2003 world champion, said the men's team is pinning its medal hopes on Kim and Lee Joon-hwan, the bronze medalist in the -81kg at each of the past two world championships.

"For our athletes, stamina has to be at the basis of everything we want to do. Techniques can come later," Hwang said. "If we can maintain that approach, I think we will do just as well at the Olympics as we did at the world championships."

Hwang said both judokas bring strong qualities.

"Min-jong is really athletic and smart. He is shorter than most judokas in his weight class, but he can take advantage of his speed," the coach said. "Joon-hwan is aggressive. He doesn't back down, and he trusts his abilities."

For the women's team, Huh is the obvious medal hopeful, with Kim Ha-yun, who finished third in the women's +78kg at this year's worlds, also chasing her first Olympic medal. Korea has not had an Olympic champion in women's judo since 1996.

Coach Kim, who became the first Korean woman to win an Olympic judo gold in 1992, said she didn't want to place too much pressure on her athletes.

"Obviously, the goal at any Olympic Games is always to win gold medals, but I don't think anyone can really predict what's going to happen," Kim said. "I think all six of our judokas are capable of grabbing a medal. I just hope they will all compete to the best of their abilities and have no regrets at the end. And if they can grab medals, then all the better."

Kim said Huh, born in Japan to a Korean father and a Japanese mother, had a chance to learn from the best while growing up in the judo powerhouse country. She has been able to couple that experience with her strength.

"She is consistently one of our best athletes when it comes to conditioning and fitness," the coach added. "And after she won the world title, her confidence is running high. She is really motivated."

The coach added Kim Ha-yun is a natural athlete.

"She can play any sport she wants. She is really agile too," Kim Mi-jung gushed. "And she is fearless. Some athletes become so nervous in competitions that they fail to execute what they've practiced. But Ha-yun never gets rattled." (Yonhap)