'Finally, a weight off my shoulders': Fencer Song Se-ra wins first gold medal at a comprehensive tournament... 'First Korean fencing gold at an Asian Games' [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Se-ra (33, Busan Metropolitan City Government) delivered Korea's first-ever gold medal in fencing at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Regarded as one of the world's top-tier fencers, Song overcame past disappointments and finally secured her first-ever Asian Games gold with a decisive thrust.

On the 22nd, Song defeated Singapore's Tikana Kiria 15-8 in the women's individual epee final held at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, to claim the title.

Song became Korea's sixth gold medalist at this tournament, following victories by Sung Seung-min (women's modern pentathlon individual), the men's team event, Lee Jun-seok (tech ball men's singles), the men's basketball team, and Kim Young-beom (men's 50m freestyle swimming). She also earned the honor of winning her first-ever gold medal in an individual event at a comprehensive sports tournament.

Ranked third in the world in women's epee, Song has won three world championship titles and earned a team silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but had never won an individual title at the Asian Games. Three years ago at the Hangzhou Games, she reached the top in the team event but lost to senior teammate Choi In-jeong in the individual final.

She competed at the Paris Olympics a year later but faced difficulties again. She was eliminated in the round of 16 in the individual event and exited in the quarterfinals in the team event, leaving her with regrets.

This time was different. After winning all six preliminary matches to advance to the round of 16, Song defeated India's Taniksha Katri to pass the first hurdle of the tournament.

In the quarterfinals, after a fierce battle against China's Tang Junyao (ranked 10th in the world), Song advanced to the semifinals with a 15-14 victory. She then defeated Japan's Takami Terayama (ranked 17th) 15-14 in the semifinals to reach the final.

The match began with intense competition, but Song gradually built a lead and dominated Kiria in the latter half of the match, securing a decisive 15-8 victory.

In men's foil, Yoon Jeong-hyun (25, Hwaseong Special City Government) lost to Hong Kong's Ryan Choi, last year's world champion, 13-15 and had to settle for a bronze medal.

Yoon extended the medal streak in this event for Korea for the first time since Son Young-gi at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, eight years later.

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*This content was translated by AI.