Woo Sang-hyeok becomes the favorite for the high jump gold at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships

Korean high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok becomes the favorite for the title at the coming 2025 Asian Athletics Championships after the withdrawal of Mutaz Essa Barsham.

“I will show good and spectacular jumps at the Asian Athletics Championships”, said Woo Sang-hyeok, known as the Smiling Jumper. The 28-year-old athlete was speaking at a press conference ahead of the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, which began yesterday and will run until Saturday, with 1,193 athletes from 43 countries competing.

The Korean is the reigning champion and is hoping to win the title on home soil again. He won for the first time in 2017 at the championships in Bhubaneswar, India, with a jump of 2.30m. He secured his second title in 2023 in Bangkok with 2.28 meters. Woo Sang-hyeok’s chances increased after his main rival Mutaz Essa Barsham of Qatar, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, withdrew just before the event.

Although the Korean placed seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a jump of 2.27m, he has been in excellent form this year. He has won four international competitions, including the World Indoor Championships with a jump of 2.31m.

“My goals this year are to win the World Indoor Championships, the Asian Athletics Championships and the World Outdoor Championships”, he said. “I achieved the first one and I am preparing well for the second one. My current form is good. I hope to finish this competition strong and continue working towards my next goal”, added the Korean athlete