South Korean fencers prove dominance in Asian Games

September 23, 2014
South Korean female fencers celebrate after winning gold medeal. (Yonhap)

The women’s sabre team of Lee Ra-jin (from left), Kim Ji-yeon, Hwang Seon-a, Yoon Ji-su defeated China 45-41 to give South Korea its fifth fencing gold in four days. (Yonhap)

Asian Games, Fensing

South Korean men’s epee team also celebrated. (Yonhap)

By Kwon Ji-youn

Both the men’s and women’s South Korean fencing teams claimed gold apiece at the Incheon Asian Games, Tuesday, proving once again how dominant the country is in the sport.

The women’s sabre team of Kim Ji-yeon, Yoon Ji-su and Lee Ra-jin went first to beat China 45-41 at the Goyang Gymnasium, giving South Korea its fifth fencing gold in four days.

Though China began fiercely with a 20-14 lead, Team Korea regrouped to make the score 30-28. The two teams continued a tight race, with the score at 41-41 when Kim stepped in to cap the game with four added points.

The men’s epee team matched the women fencers’ victory with a win soon after in the team final against Japan.

Jung Jin-sun, Park Kyoung-doo, Park Sang-young and Kweon Young-jun beat Japanese fencers 25-21 for South Korea’s third consecutive Asiad gold in the team event. South Korea is the only country that has won three straight Asiad golds in the men’s team epee since 1974. This was Jung’s second gold at the Asian Games.