[Anchor]

Turning now to the Asian Games, where our reliable powerhouse event, fencing, has begun its hunt for gold. On the very first day of fencing events, top women's national team fencer Song Se-ra successfully delivered the golden thrust, capturing her first-ever individual gold medal at the Asian Games.

We have more in this report from Kim Hyeong-yeol.

[Reporter]

Song Se-ra reached the final after staging a dramatic comeback victory against Japan's Terayama in the semifinals.

On the brink of defeat just one point away from elimination, she executed a surprise arm thrust to tie the score at 14-14. In the ensuing overtime, even as she stepped back from her opponent's attack, she delivered a precise counterattack to the head, raising both arms in celebration of her advancement to the final.

In the final against Singapore's Kiria, she managed the match with greater composure and fully showcased her skills.

Springing forward for counterattacks and exquisitely targeting her opponent's foot, she drove the match to a decisive 15-8 victory to secure the gold medal.

Following her gold medal at this year's World Championships, she also conquered the Asian Games, savoring the finest moment of her career at age 33.

[Song Se-ra / National Fencing Épée Athlete: I was very nervous, but I overcame it well and I am so happy. I am so glad and proud to have contributed as a member of South Korea.]

Although Song is a leading figure as the only South Korean fencing athlete to win the World Championships individual event twice, she had previously missed out on individual gold medals at major international multi-sport events like the Olympics and Asian Games, including a loss to senior teammate Choi In-jeong in an overtime final at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games.

This time was different.

Burning with fighting spirit to the end as the eldest unni of the national team, she fulfilled her golden dream in an individual event at a major multi-sport competition.

Song will now join forces with her junior teammates to pursue a second consecutive victory in the team event.

[Song Se-ra / National Fencing Épée Athlete: I will do my best so that all of us on the team can wear the gold medals together. I ask for your continued support and interest through the team event.]

Meanwhile, Yun Jung-hyun won a bronze medal in the men's foil, ensuring that our powerhouse fencing team secured medals in both events on the opening day.

(Video by Yang Doo-won | Video Editing by Lee Hong-myeong | Graphics by Cho Su-in)