(LEAD) (Universiade) S. Korea reigns supreme in judo with three more gold medals

(ATTN: UPDATES with athletes' remarks at bottom)

GWANGJU, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reigned supreme again in Summer Universiade judo on Tuesday, with three more gold medals coming from the mat.

The host now has captured eight out of 16 judo gold medals, with the men's and the women's team gold medals at stake on Wednesday, the last day for judo.

Jeong Bo-kyeong won the women's under-48㎏ for the first title of the day at Yeomju Bitgoeul Gymnasium, a waza-ari victory over Gabriela Chibana of Brazil.

Kim Won-jin took the men's under-60㎏ gold over Yuma Oshima of Japan with a yuko score. Then in the women's open weight class, Kim Ji-youn got the better of China's Kang Jie for the third gold of Tuesday.

Against Chibana, Jeong picked up a waza-ari score with a quick corner drop just 30 seconds into the four-minute showdown. Jeong got a shido with about 10 seconds left but fended off the Brazilian for the title.

In the men's under-60㎏ final, Kim picked up a yuko score with a large outer drop with about three minutes remaining and held on for the narrow win.

Kim Ji-youn took down the bigger opponent with a pair of shoulder throws, good for waza-ari and then yuko.

All three of them said the Olympics would be next.

"I'm glad I won on home soil," Kim Won-jin said. "I'm confident I can come away with a gold medal at the Olympics."

Jeong Bo-kyeong echoed his optimism, saying she was satisfied with Tuesday's results.

"The victory gave my confidence a boost so I can dream of the world championships and the Olympics," she said.

For the 26-year-old Kim Ji-youn, the 2016 Olympics would be her last shot at an Olympic gold.

"This is my first gold medal (since the 2011 Universiade,)" she said. "This may be the first time since high school that I succeeded at a shoulder throw on someone who weighs 40㎏ more than I."

jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)