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Oxygen Tank VS aerial fighting style
Jan 2018 – Can Anyone Take Out Dae-hoon Lee?
He has been WT’s Male “Player of the Year” three times. He is a triple world champion. And this year, he won three out of four Grand Prix titles on offer. This record makes Team Korea’s Dae-hoon Lee the man to beat in the -68kg division.
Lee has it all. His humble persona has made him one of the most popular taekwondo fighters, and on the mats he boasts a wide technical arsenal, marked by crowd-pleasing round kicks. “Lee is an all-round technician who is especially good at adjusting to any opponent’s style,” said WT Technical and Development Committee Chairman Jin-bang Yang. “He is a natural talent and also a hard worker, which is a rare combination.” And since Rio, Lee has been on a major conditioning and weight training regimen, upgrading his power.
The only man in the category who has decisively defeated Lee in recent competition – under the spotlight in Rio – is Jordan’s 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Ahmad Abughaush. However, “The Desert Wolf” will not appear in Wuxi due to injury. With Abughaush absent, Lee is the number-one seed.
If anyone has the weaponry to take out Lee, it is Rio silver medalist Alexey Denisenko of Team Russia. He and Lee clashed for the gold medal at the Grand Prix Final 2017 in Abidjan. It was a close match: The Korean phenomenon only won with a two-point difference, 12-10. The two fighters – who both display spectacular technique – have fought six times, with each one winning three times: A perfect 50:50 split.
In Wuxi, they are both on the same side of the match tree, which means they may fight in the semi-final, instead of fighting in the final – a dream match for fans. The bout would pitch Lee’s vast technical arsenal against Denisenko’s uniquely unpredictable, aerial fighting style. One thing that will be on Lee’s side is stamina, given that the finals of the Grand Slam series are five, rather than three, two-minute rounds. “Among the Korean players, Lee is known as the ‘Oxygen Tank,’” said Yang. “He has awesome endurance.”
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