Yoon Ji-su leaves it all on the piste to take individual sabre gold

More

Published: 26 Sep. 2023, 21:46 Updated: 27 Sep. 2023, 22:54

Yoon Ji-su leaves it all on the piste to take individual sabre gold

Yoon Ji-su reacts after beating China's Shao Yaqi to take gold in the women's individual sabre at the Hangzhou Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Korea’s Yoon Ji-su beat China’s Shao Yaqi in the final of the women’s individual sabre on Tuesday, claiming her first individual Asiad gold medal and reestablishing Korea’s dominance in the event.

Yoon beat Shao 15-10 in a close-fought final at Hangzhou Dianzi University Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China, conceding the first couple of points but taking a lead at 3-2 and holding on until the end.

Oh Sang-uk dethrones reigning sabre champion Gu Bon-gil in all-Korean final

Yoon dominated at the end of the first period, leading 8-2. She started the second period slower, but quickly rallied to lock in the win.

Tuesday’s win marks Yoon’s first individual gold at a major international tournament. A seasoned sabrist, Yoon has an Olympic bronze medal in the team event from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and team Asiad gold medals from 2018 and 2014.

The win also sees Korea recement its dominance in the discipline, having now won four of a possible six gold medals in the women’s individual event. After winning in 2010 and 2014, Korea briefly ceded the top two spots to China in 2018 but reclaimed the title Tuesday.

Korea also dominated in men’s individual sabre on Monday, with Oh Sang-uk and Gu Bon-gil taking gold and silver after an all-Korean final.

The sabre team events are yet to take place — the women’s will be on Friday and the men’s on Saturday. Korea won both the men’s and women’s team sabre events in both 2014 and 2014, suggesting that a complete sabre gold medal sweep could be on the cards this year.

On the piste tomorrow will be the women’s epee team and men’s foil team finals. Korea took silver in the women’s epee team event in 2014 and 2018 and are the reigning men’s foil team champions.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]