"Korea is so touching; although we failed to win the gold medal..." Overseas media praise pours down like this, and here's why [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

It is more than just the color of the medals. At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men's foil team fencing medal ceremony, athletes from different nations embraced each other in celebration and performed a group cheer, showcasing heartwarming sportsmanship that has drawn widespread attention.

On the 27th, Japanese media outlet "The Answer" highlighted the moment, stating, "A scene of friendship transcending national borders unfolded at the men's foil team fencing medal ceremony at the Asian Games, drawing a flood of praise."

In the men's foil team final held on the 25th at Sky Expo Hall in Aichi Prefecture, Japan defeated Hong Kong with a score of 45-36 to claim the gold medal.

At the medal ceremony following an intense match, a touching scene unfolded beyond victory and defeat. The Japanese team (gold), Hong Kong team (silver), and South Korean and Chinese teams (joint bronze) stood side by side on the podium before forming a circle together.

Athletes from the four rival nations synchronized their movements to lift the South Korean athletes into the air several times, performing a group cheer. They then clapped together, hugged each other, and offered words of encouragement, sharing deep camaraderie.

The Asian Fencing Federation shared the video on its official social networking service (SNS), stating, "Champions are celebrating together. This is a special moment where all teams that won medals after the men's foil competition celebrated as one, embodying true team spirit."

In response, reactions poured in with comments such as "Excellent mindset of the athletes," "Sports should embody the spirit of love and peace," and "Truly a touching sight."

The South Korean team, consisting of Yoon Jeong-hyun, Im Cheol-woo, Lee Gwang-hyeon, and Kim Tae-hwan, narrowly lost to Hong Kong 41-45 in the semi-finals held that day, finishing the tournament with a bronze medal. With no separate third-place match, South Korea's bid for three consecutive team titles following their wins at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and 2022 Hangzhou Games was unfortunately thwarted. Earlier, Yoon Jeong-hyun had already secured an individual bronze medal, making it his second bronze of this tournament.

South Korea staged a fierce battle in the semi-finals. In particular, after Yoon Jeong-hyun scored six points, Lee Gwang-hyeon, the final team member, displayed remarkable strength by scoring 13 points against the opposing ace Ryan Choi, narrowing the gap to just two points at 41-43. However, they conceded two consecutive points in the closing moments and ultimately suffered a disappointing four-point loss.

Although they narrowly missed their goal of three consecutive titles, the South Korean team mingled freely with athletes from competing nations on the podium, delivering the most radiant friendship and emotion on the Asian Games stage.

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*This content was translated by AI.