Im Aeji shouts for joy on Aug. 1 after winning the 54-kg quarterfinals in women's boxing of the Paris Summer Olympics against Colombian counterpart Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda at Paris North Arena. (Yonhap News)

By Gil Kyuyoung

Im Aeji is the nation's first female boxer to win a medal in the Olympics.

In the Paris Summer Olympics at North Paris Arena, the competitor on Aug. 1 defeated Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda of Colombia, 3-2, in the 54-kg quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals.

Olympic boxing has no bronze medal match, so the loser of each semifinal receives a bronze. Im is also Korea's first boxer to win an Olympic medal since Han Soonchul took silver in the men's 60-kg class at the 2012 London Games.

In her bout, Im fought smart against Arias in the first and second rounds and threw punches until the end of the third to secure at least a bronze. All five judges ruled in favor of the Korean, 3-2.

She will face on Aug. 4 Hatice Akbas of Turkiye (Turkey) in the semifinals.

In badminton, the mixed doubles team of Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun won the all-Korean semifinal over compatriots Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung for a berth in the final.

gilkyuyoung@korea.kr