"Selected for his extensive competitive experience and leadership"
Former Road FC lightweight champion Kwon A-sol has been named head coach of South Korea's MMA national team for the Asian Games.
The Korea MMA Federation, led by President Jeong Moon-hong, announced Friday that it had appointed Kwon as the inaugural head coach to lead the national team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The appointment drew significant attention from MMA officials and fans, as it marks the first time a national team coaching staff has been assembled since MMA was adopted as an official Asian Games discipline. The federation selected Kwon for his extensive competitive career and coaching credentials.
Kwon contributed to the growth of MMA in South Korea over more than two decades as a fighter, including his tenure as Road FC champion, and has continued to develop younger athletes as a coach since retiring. The federation said it expects his hands-on experience and leadership to be a major asset in running the national team.
Korea MMA Federation Secretary-General Kim Seong-tae said the selection was conducted through a formally convened performance improvement committee in accordance with the federation's bylaws, ensuring a transparent process. "After carefully reviewing multiple candidates, there was consensus that Kwon A-sol, with his extensive competitive experience and symbolic stature, was the best person to lead the national team," Kim said.
Kwon said he felt a deep sense of responsibility given the limited time remaining before the Asian Games. "I will pour everything I have into helping the national team athletes perform at their best," he said. "I will do my utmost to bring home medals and deliver results the people of Korea can be proud of."
Meanwhile, Choi Eun-seok and Lee Bo-mi are set to compete for South Korea in the MMA events at the Asian Games.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
