The Iron Girl Squad turned the impossible into possible with their 'Iron Mindset'.
In the episode of tvN's entertainment program 'Iron Girl Squad 2' aired on the 19th, Yui and Park Joo-hyun won gold medals in a boxing competition just three months after starting boxing, while Geum Sae-rok and Seol In-ah secured silver medals. Having achieved the miracle of all members winning medals in their first competition, expectations rose for their performance in the final competition.
The viewership rating for this episode recorded an average of 3.0% nationwide and a peak of 3.8%, marking its highest rating ever. In the metropolitan area, the average was 2.5% and the peak was 3.4%, ranking first in the same time slot among cable and general programming channels. The target demographic for tvN, viewers aged 20-49, also ranked first in the same time slot across all channels nationwide and in the metropolitan area. (Based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite / Provided by Nielsen Korea)
Seol In-ah, who was the first contestant in the finals, painted her opponent and waited for the right moment to attack, landing a solid right hook that knocked her opponent down. Although she fought fiercely in a tight contest, she was overwhelmed by her opponent's fierce attacks in the latter half of the second round and squeezed out her remaining strength to finish the match.
However, as if she had poured everything into the match, she collapsed immediately after the final whistle, surprising everyone. As she descended from the ring in tears, the sincerity of her dedication to boxing was palpable, and her mother's warm words acknowledging her efforts brought tears to her eyes once again, leaving the viewers moved.
The next contestant, Park Joo-hyun, managed to focus on her match despite the sudden situation. In the early part of the first round, she allowed several effective hits from her opponent, who charged at her like a bulldozer, but she calmly executed her specialty of hitting and retreating while keeping an eye on her opponent, impressing everyone. Park Joo-hyun finished the match by adding effective hits until the end and won the gold medal she had longed for, becoming the first champion of the Iron Girl Squad with a record of 2 wins and 0 losses.
Meanwhile, Yui advanced to the finals by default, making her final match her first fight. As the first round began, Yui launched a preemptive attack as if she had never been nervous, drawing attention with her specialty of one-two punches and aggressive attacks. In the second round, she was hit by a right hook from her opponent's relentless attacks, but she retaliated with a left hook, causing her opponent to lose balance and fall, heating up the venue. As a result, Yui also hung a gold medal around her neck, cheering the audience.
The last contestant, Geum Sae-rok, faced an opponent with 1 year and 3 months of boxing experience but 6 years of jiu-jitsu, 2 years of wrestling, and 1 year of judo experience, making it a formidable match. Geum Sae-rok utilized her long reach to throw punches at her opponent, who kept charging in without rest. Despite her opponent's effective hits, she continued to push forward and counterattack, earning a valuable silver medal. Seol In-ah, who was unable to participate in the medal ceremony, also received a silver medal.
After the first competition, Seol In-ah, who was recovering from an ankle injury, expressed her determination to participate until the end, and the Iron Girl Squad continued their training with the goal of completing the competition regardless of wins or losses. With just 10 days left until the final competition, the members, who knew each other's styles well, engaged in sparring to prepare for opponents they were likely to face in the competition and to review the styles they had practiced, allowing them to feel another growth.
The final competition, which will conclude the boxing champion challenge, can be seen in the upcoming episode of 'Iron Girl Squad 2' airing on the 26th at 8:40 PM.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
