Woo Sang-hyeok, the first clash of the 2023 season with Barsim in May
‘Smile Jumper’ Woo Sang-hyeok (27, Yongin City Hall, photo), who won the silver medal in the high jump at the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, left for Kazakhstan with swollen teeth. Although he was prescribed antibiotics, he did not take antibiotics in order to block suspicion of doping in advance, and eventually developed sinusitis called sinusitis. Although he was unable to train as planned due to poor physical condition, Sang-hyeok Woo went ahead with the competition and won a valuable silver medal despite his not-so-perfect physical condition.
Woo Sang-hyeok, who returned to Korea on the 14th, submitted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) document to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WDAD) and is scheduled to undergo sinusitis surgery as soon as it is approved.
Woo Sang-hyeok’s goal this season is to win the World Championships in Budapest in August and the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September. He is set to compete in notable competitions in the world athletics world before then. He competes in the opening match of the 2023 World Athletics Federation Diamond League in Doha, Qatar on May 5 and faces ‘World’s Best Jumper’ Mutaz Esabarsim (Qatar). Woo Sang-hyeok, who won this competition in May of last year by beating Barshim, who jumped 2m30 over 2m33, competes as a ‘defending champion’. 안전놀이터
Woo Sang-hyeok and Barsim played against each other throughout last year, forming a two-way match. Woo Sang-hyeok won the Diamond League opening match, but at the Oregon World Championships in July last year, Barshim won his third consecutive championship by over 2m37, and Woo Sang-hyeok won a silver medal with 2m35.
The fierce confrontation between Woo Sang-hyeok and Barshim in major competitions is expected to continue this year. The starting point is the same Doha Diamond League as last year. Afterwards, he will participate in the KBS Cup National Track and Field Championships held in Yecheon from May 5 to 9. Since the KBS boat doubles as a selection match for the Hangzhou Asian Games, it is a must-see for Woo Sang-hyeok, who is aiming for a gold medal in the Asian Games.
Woo Sang-hyeok, who sweated while fighting pain this winter, defeated Barshim in the Doha Diamond League in May and won his first championship of the season.