[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Our women's modern pentathlon representative Kim Se-hee (BNK Savings Bank) ranked 2nd in the fencing ranking round, the first event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
On the 5th, at the Musashinonomori Sports Plaza in Tokyo, Japan, Kim Se-hee recorded 24 wins and 11 losses (244 points) in the women's modern pentathlon fencing ranking round 35 matches at the Tokyo Olympics, placing 2nd behind Annika Schleu (Germany, 29 wins 6 losses, 274 points).
Modern pentathlon is a sport where one athlete competes in fencing, swimming, equestrian, athletics, and shooting to determine the ultimate 'all-around athlete.' At the Olympics, the fencing pool league is held first on the opening day.
Each of the 36 male and female athletes face each other once in ?p?e 1-point matches, starting with a base score of 100 points and earning 6 points for each victory. Fencing is also held during the main events on the 6th for women and the 7th for men, but those are bonus rounds where each win is worth 1 point, making the first-day ranking round crucial.
Kim Se-hee earned her Tokyo Olympic spot by winning the individual event at the 2019 Asian Championships. In her first-ever Olympic competition, she delivered one of her best fencing performances ever in international competition, taking a light first step toward the best Olympic result for Korean women's modern pentathlon.
With Kim Se-hee showing excellent form starting from fencing, Korean modern pentathlon is expected to win its first-ever Olympic medal not only in the men's division, which had high expectations, but also in the women's division, where medal prospects have emerged.
The best Olympic result for Korean female modern pentathletes to date was 13th place by Kim Sun-woo at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. At that time, Kim Sun-woo recorded 16 wins in the fencing ranking round 35 matches. Kim Sun-woo, who also competed in the Tokyo Olympics, placed 14th with 19 wins and 16 losses.
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