After the men's sabre team, the women's sabre team also triumphed! Japan crushed 45-31 → Asian Games title reclaimed for the first time in eight years [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Republic of Korea women's sabre national fencing team defeated host nation Japan to reclaim the Asian Games title for the first time in eight years. Building on the men's sabre team gold medal won earlier, Korean fencing completed a double victory in both men's and women's sabre team events, delivering the 20th gold medal to the South Korean delegation at this tournament.

The South Korean women's sabre national team, composed of Chun Ha-young (Seoul City Hall), Choi Se-bin (Daejeon City Hall), Seo Ji-yeon, and Kim Jeong-mi (both Ansan City Hall), defeated Japan 45-31 in the final of the women's sabre team event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held on the 27th at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

With this victory, the South Korean women's sabre team extended its gold medal streak for the first time in eight years, following back-to-back titles at the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games before a bronze medal finish at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. The disappointment of failing to win any individual medals at this tournament was completely erased.

After defeating Hong Kong in the quarterfinals and China in the semifinals, South Korea advanced to the final with overwhelming momentum. Choi Se-bin, competing as the first fencer for South Korea, took an early 5-2 lead against Japan's ace Misaki Emura, seizing control of the match.

Chun Ha-young then extended the lead to 10-6, and veteran Seo Ji-yeon, competing in the third relay, scored consecutive points to push the score to 15-8. In the fourth relay, Choi Se-bin conceded four points against Yui Sano but regained focus, scoring five straight points to maintain a 20-12 lead. South Korea held firm throughout the first six relays without allowing Japan even a single tie.

Unexpected difficulties arose in the latter half of the match. During the seventh relay, Seo Ji-yeon slipped while attempting a point and collapsed due to a knee injury. In response, Kim Jeong-mi was urgently substituted into the lineup. Having already scored four points earlier, Kim Jeong-mi stepped onto the piste and immediately executed a sharp parry-riposte upon resumption of play, ending the seventh relay with a 35-23 lead.

Once the crisis was overcome, the match quickly tilted in South Korea's favor. In the eighth relay, Choi Se-bin maintained relentless pressure against Seri Ozaki, widening the gap to 40-25—a 15-point margin. Chun Ha-young, competing as the final fencer in the ninth relay, repelled Japan's late comeback attempts and sealed the victory with a decisive lunge at 44-31.

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*This content was translated by AI.