The South Korean fencing national team failed to add any medals in the women's sabre and men's epee on the final day of the individual events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Jeon Ha-young (Seoul City Hall) of women's sabre was eliminated after losing 11-15 to Rao Xueyi (China) in the quarterfinals of the individual tournament held at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 24th.

Currently ranked 11th in the world—the highest among Asian athletes—and having once reached world number one, Jeon was considered a medal contender in the individual event for this tournament, but she suffered a setback against world number 23 Rao Xueyi and missed out on the podium.

Fencing individual events, where up to two athletes from a single country can participate, decide medals through a knockout tournament starting from the round of 32.

After receiving a bye in the round of 32, Jeon had a refreshing start by defeating Shreya Gupta (India) 15-6 in the round of 16.

Even in the quarterfinals against Rao Xueyi, she took an 8-3 lead and was on the verge of securing a medal, but she lost her momentum and began to waver past the middle of the match.

Allowing a comeback by surrendering seven consecutive points from 5-9, Jeon chased by a single point after the match was briefly suspended and then resumed due to an opponent injury at 10-12, but she subsequently conceded successive points and bowed her head.

Kim Jung-mi (Ansan City Hall), who competed alongside her, suffered a comprehensive 5-15 defeat to Summer Fay Yee (Hong Kong) in the round of 16 and failed to reach the quarterfinals.

Similarly, the men's epee individual event held on the same day yielded no medalists.


Jang Hyo-min (Ulsan City Hall) advanced to the quarterfinals, but he was caught 12-13 after an overtime battle with Ho Sun Pong (Hong Kong) and failed to advance to the semifinals.

Park Sang-young (Ulsan City Hall), the gold medalist in the men's epee individual event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, lost 13-15 to Zhang Xinkun (China) in the round of 16.

Park, who won a silver medal in the individual event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games and contributed to the team gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Games and the team bronze medal at the Jakarta Games, did not compete in the 2023 Hangzhou Games and suffered an early defeat upon returning after eight years.

South Korea wrapped up the individual fencing events of this tournament, which began on the 22nd, with 2 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 1 bronze medal.

Individual medals decreased slightly compared to the Hangzhou Games three years ago (3 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze).

Starting from the 25th, the team events for men's and women's sabre, epee, and foil will follow.

South Korea aims to defend its titles in the men's sabre, women's epee, and men's foil team events.
 

(Photo: Yonhap News)