한국 씨름 선수단, 스페인 루차카나리아 대회에서 씨름 소개
A team of South Korean Ssireum wrestlers are visiting the Canary Islands this week to compete in the championship of Spanish folk wrestling called Lucha Canaria.
There, the Koreans also demonstrated what Ssireum or Korean folk wrestling is all about.
Choi Si-young reports.
Late last month, wrestlers from Spain participated in the 2018 Korea Ssireum Festival in the city of Andong.
Now, in return, these South Koreans are in Spain's Canary Islands to join in a competition of local folk wrestling -- the Lucha Canaria World Championship.
It's the first time the tournament's invited athletes from overseas.
The South Korean team has 25 members -- male and female.
They had just two days -- Monday and Tuesday -- to learn Canarian wrestling before competing in the tournament, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday.
On the tournament's first day, the Koreans demonstrated their own folk wrestling, Ssireum, to the Spanish athletes and spectators.
"This is my first time I've seen Ssireum in real time except on TV. I really like it."
"It's an experience I'd love to have again. I want to learn more about it."
On the second day, it's time for the Koreans to compete in the Canarian style.
"On the third day, it's the Spanish wrestlers amongst themselves. And on the fourth and final day, those Korean survivors have to face the Spanish athletes to determine the winner."
South Korea and Spain have also discussed making this cultural exchange a regular event. And next year's championship is expected to have even more participants from overseas, including wrestlers from Senegal, Russia and Mongolia.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News, Las Palmas.
