North Korea sends nine wrestlers to Asian Games, including world No. 1 Han Chang-song

North Korea will send nine wrestlers to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with world No. 1 Han Chang-song heading a delegation that will challenge for the top of the podium.

The roster, listed on the United World Wrestling website, includes Han in the men’s freestyle 57-kilogram division. Kim Kwang-jin will compete at 65 kilograms, while Ryu Chol and Son Man-kwang will enter the men’s Greco-Roman 60- and 67-kilogram divisions.

North Korea’s women’s entries are Kim Son-hyang at 50 kilograms, Choe Hyo-gyong at 53 kilograms, Son Il-sim at 57 kilograms, Kim Ok-ju at 62 kilograms and Pak Sol-gum at 68 kilograms.

Han is the clearest gold-medal favorite. He won silver at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, then captured gold at both the Asian Championships in March and the World Championships in September last year. The other entrants include several wrestlers with strong international rankings: Choe is seventh, Pak 10th, Kim Kwang-jin 14th, Kim Son-hyang 19th, Son Man-kwang 49th and Ryu Chol 51st. Son Il-sim and Kim Ok-ju are both ranked third in their weight classes.