Eight members of wrestling team test positive for Covid-19

A total of eight members of the Korean wrestling team — seven wrestlers and one coach — have tested positive for Covid-19.

Earlier this month, the Korean wrestling squad sent a total of 49 athletes to the Asian Wrestling Olympic qualifiers in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 24 of whom returned to Korea on Monday after the competition, with the other 25 flying to Sofia, Bulgaria for the Olympic World Qualification Tournament taking place from May 6 to 9.

Seven members of the team were reported to have tested positive on Wednesday — one in Bulgaria and the rest in Korea — with one additional case reported in Korea on Thursday.

The 25 athletes in Bulgaria are due to be tested again Thursday evening, with results to come out by Friday morning.

Korea Wrestling Federation

“The national team will retake Covid-19 tests tonight," said a Korea Wrestling Federation official on Thursday. "All members are following strict prevention measures and cooperating with the embassy and Bulgarian Wrestling Federation."

In the meanwhile, the national team in Bulgaria plans to push ahead with the competitions as this will be the last chance for Korean wrestlers to qualify for the Olympics.

Korea currently only has two Olympic berths — in the men's Greco-Roman 67-kilogram and 130-kilogram weight classes.

London 2012 gold medalist Kim Hyeon-woo, who has not yet earned a berth, expressed his determination to continue competing for a spot.

The World Qualification Tournament starting May 6 will allow those who have tested negative for Covid-19 to compete, but those who have tested positive will be ordered to quarantine according to regulations.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]