Korean fencers win gold in men's sabre team competition

By AJU PRESS Posted : August 1, 2024, 07:55 Updated : August 1, 2024, 10:11
SEOUL, August 01 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea etched its name in Olympic history on Wednesday, capturing its third consecutive gold medal in men's sabre fencing. The victory over Hungary in the gold medal match at the Paris Summer Games solidified the nation's dominance in the sport.
 
South Korean fencers Oh Sang-uk, Gu Bon-gil, Park Sang-won and Do Gyeong-dong celebrate with their coach after winning the men's team sabre final match against Hungary during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. AP-Yonhap
 

World No. 1 South Korea defeated third-ranked Hungary 45-41 in a thrilling final. Oh Sang-uk, Gu Bon-gil, and Park Sang-won were the starting lineup, with Do Gyeong-dong subbing in for Gu. Oh, who also claimed the individual sabre title earlier in the Games, became the first South Korean to win two gold medals at a single Olympics.

South Korea's gold medal streak is a remarkable feat. Only Hungary, with seven consecutive titles from 1928 to 1960, has achieved a longer run of dominance in the event. The men's sabre team competition was absent from the 2016 Olympics but returned to the program in Tokyo in 2021.

The final was a tense affair. South Korea jumped out to an early lead but Hungary mounted a strong challenge. With the score tied 28-28, substitute Do Gyeong-dong entered the match and delivered a crucial performance, helping South Korea pull away. In the final bout, Oh Sang-uk held off a determined Aron Szilagyi to secure the victory.

The gold medal is the first for Park Sang-won and Do Gyeong-dong, while Gu Bon-gil has now been part of all three championship teams.

South Korea's triumph underscores its status as a global fencing powerhouse. As the nation continues to produce world-class fencers, expectations for future success will only grow.