한국 씨름 선수단, 스페인 루차카나리아 대회에서 씨름 소개<br /><br />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.<br />There, the Koreans also demonstrated what Ssireum or Korean folk wrestling is all about.<br />Choi Si-young reports. <br />Late last month, wrestlers from Spain participated in the 2018 Korea Ssireum Festival in the city of Andong.<br />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.<br />It's the first time the tournament's invited athletes from overseas.<br />The South Korean team has 25 members -- male and female.<br />They had just two days -- Monday and Tuesday -- to learn Canarian wrestling before competing in the tournament, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday.<br />On the tournament's first day, the Koreans demonstrated their own folk wrestling, Ssireum, to the Spanish athletes and spectators.<br />"This is my first time I've seen Ssireum in real time except on TV. I really like it."<br />"It's an experience I'd love to have again. I want to learn more about it."<br />On the second day, it's time for the Koreans to compete in the Canarian style.<br />"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."<br />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.<br />Choi Si-young, Arirang News, Las Palmas.
