Women's Épée Team Secures Bronze After Defeating Japan; Song Se-ra Eyes Second Gold [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] South Korea's women's épée team defeated Japan to reach the team event semifinals at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, securing at least a bronze medal. Song Se-ra, who won gold in the individual event, is aiming for a second gold medal at the competition.
South Korea, represented by Song Se-ra (Busan City Hall), Lee Hye-in (Ulsan City Hall) and Lim Tae-hee (Gyeryong City Hall), defeated Japan 45-40 in the women's épée team quarterfinals held at Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture on the 25th.
Asian Games fencing does not hold a separate third-place match and awards a bronze medal to teams that lose in the semifinals. Having secured at least bronze, South Korea is seeking its second consecutive title in the event after the Hangzhou Asian Games.
South Korea, ranked No. 1 in the world, followed a 45-20 victory over Mongolia in the round of 16 by defeating Japan.
First starter Lim Tae-hee began with a 5-4 lead, and Song Se-ra widened the overall margin to 10-6 by taking the second bout 5-2. Lee Hye-in then posted a 5-3 result to put South Korea ahead 15-9.
South Korea never relinquished its lead. In the final round, with the team ahead 39-31, Song Se-ra conceded nine points to Kishimoto Rin but secured the victory by reaching 45 first.
South Korea's men's foil team also reached the semifinals and secured at least a bronze medal. South Korea, featuring individual bronze medalist Yoon Jeong-hyun and Cheol Woo Lim and Lee Kwang-hyun, both of Hwaseong Special City Hall, defeated Taiwan 45-37 in the quarterfinals.
South Korea trailed Taiwan early, but Lee Kwang-hyun turned the match around in the fifth round by taking a 25-24 lead. South Korea fell behind again at 29-30 in the sixth round, but Cheol Woo Lim's performance restored a 35-32 lead. Yoon Jeong-hyun and Lee Kwang-hyun then held on to the advantage.
South Korea's men's foil team, seeking a third consecutive title in the event, will face Hong Kong in the semifinals. The women's épée and men's foil team semifinals will begin at 2:20 p.m. that day.

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