Women's Sabre Team Fencing Advances to Semifinals by Defeating Hungary... First Medal Challenge

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The South Korean women's sabre fencing team advanced toward their first-ever team event medal by defeating Hungary in their first match of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics team event.

The South Korean women's sabre team, consisting of Kim Ji-yeon, Yoon Ji-su, Choi Soo-yeon, and substitute Seo Ji-yeon, defeated Hungary 45-40 in the quarterfinals held on the 31st at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Maintaining a 25-20 lead through the fifth match, South Korea faced challenges when Yoon Ji-su struggled against Hungary's rising star born in 2001, Liza Pusztai, in the sixth match, allowing Hungary to close the gap to 30-29. During the seventh match, Choi Soo-yeon complained of shoulder pain while competing against Ren?ta Katona, and South Korea fell behind 32-35.

However, Yoon Ji-su, who came up next, scored 8 points against Hungary's ace, Anna Marton, reaching 40 points first and handing a one-point lead to team captain Kim Ji-yeon. Kim Ji-yeon then held Pusztai to a single point and secured the victory with four consecutive points in the final moments.

South Korean fencing aims for its first Olympic medal in the women's sabre team event.

The women's sabre team event was introduced at the 2008 Beijing Games, was excluded due to event rotation at the 2012 London Games, and is being held for the third time following the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

South Korea did not participate in the Beijing Games, and in Rio, Kim Ji-yeon, Seo Ji-yeon, Yoon Ji-su, and Hwang Sun-ah competed but were defeated by Ukraine in the quarterfinals, finishing in 5th place overall.

South Korea will face the world's number one ranked and defending champion Russia in the semifinals at 1:40 PM.