Japan wins Men's Foil team gold, Korea claims Women's Epee title at Asian Fencing
Synopsis
Japan and South Korea swept the final two team golds at the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship in New Delhi — but the standout subplot was India's Men's Foil team finishing 8th at home, sealing a direct Asian Games qualification berth and marking a genuine inflection point for Indian fencing on the continental stage.
Key Takeaways
Japan won the Men's Foil team gold at the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship on 24 June at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi .
South Korea claimed the Women's Epee team gold , defeating China (silver) and Kazakhstan (bronze).
In Men's Foil, Hong Kong, China took silver and China took bronze; Japan's squad was anchored by individual champion Kyosuke Matsuyama .
India's Men's Foil team finished 8th , securing a direct Asian Games qualification spot .
India's Women's Epee team finished 9th , demonstrating improved structural resilience against top continental opposition.
Japan clinched the Men's Foil team gold medal while South Korea swept to glory in the Women's Epee team event on the final day of the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 24 June, bringing the curtain down on a fiercely contested edition of the continental showpiece.
Men's Foil Team: Japan's Flawless Finish
The Japanese squad delivered a masterclass in distance control and defensive blade-work to take the gold. The team — anchored by individual champion Kyosuke Matsuyama alongside Kazuki Iimura, Shunsuke Baba, and Ryoga Ono — combined tight parries with rapid baseline transitions to stay ahead of a high-quality field throughout the day.
Hong Kong, China, led by two-time Olympic Individual Champion Cheung Ka Long and supported by Ryan Choi Chun Yin, Harris Ho Shing Him, and Leung Chin Yu, mounted a fierce challenge to claim the silver medal. China — fielding Yifan Guo, Weiqiao Lyu, Jie Xu, and Zhaoran Zeng — secured the bronze medal.
Women's Epee Team: South Korea's Dominant Display
South Korea put on a commanding tactical performance in the Women's Epee team final, with the lineup of Lee, Lim, Song, and Yang outclassing the competition from start to finish. They defeated China's unit of Liu, Tang, Yang, and Yu, who earned the silver medal. Kazakhstan, represented by Andreyeva, Bakaldina, Samodelkina, and Nikolaichuk, completed the podium with the bronze medal after a resilient run through the tournament.
India's Milestone Showing on Home Soil
Host nation India marked a significant developmental milestone at the championship, competing against Asia's most battle-hardened Olympic-cycle squads in front of a vocal home crowd at Bharat Mandapam.
In the Men's Foil Team category, the Indian rotation of Sachin, Sanasam Hemash Singh, Tejas Manoj Patil, and Aditya deployed rapid blade-work and close-quarter infighting to minimise unforced errors. Their efforts earned an impressive 8th-place finish, which doubles as a direct qualification spot for the upcoming Asian Games — a landmark result for Indian fencing.
The Women's Epee team of Prachi Lohan, Taniksha Khatri, Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari, and Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer demonstrated strong structural resilience, managing the clock and distance against far more experienced continental units to finish 9th overall.
What the Results Mean Going Forward
India's Asian Games qualification through the Men's Foil team result is the headline takeaway beyond the medals, signalling a measurable step up in the country's fencing programme. For Japan and South Korea, the gold medals reinforce their status as the dominant forces in Asian fencing heading into the next Olympic cycle. The 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship at Bharat Mandapam thus closes with the host nation having punched above its weight while the traditional powerhouses reaffirmed their continental supremacy.
Point of View
Measurable outcome, not just a feel-good narrative. Indian fencing has long struggled to translate domestic investment into continental results; an 8th-place finish against Olympic-cycle squads suggests the programme is finally building competitive depth. The next test will be whether this cohort can hold that qualification standard when the Asian Games pressure arrives, rather than peaking at a home event.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Men's Foil team gold at the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship?
Japan won the Men's Foil team gold, with a squad comprising Kyosuke Matsuyama, Kazuki Iimura, Shunsuke Baba, and Ryoga Ono. Hong Kong, China took silver and China claimed bronze.
Who won the Women's Epee team gold at the Asian Senior Fencing Championship 2025?
South Korea won the Women's Epee team gold with Lee, Lim, Song, and Yang. China won silver and Kazakhstan took bronze.
Where was the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championship held?
The championship was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India, with the final day of team events taking place on 24 June.
How did India perform at the Asian Senior Fencing Championship?
India's Men's Foil team finished 8th, earning a direct qualification spot for the upcoming Asian Games — a landmark result for the host nation. The Women's Epee team finished 9th, showing improved resilience against top continental competition.
What is the significance of India's 8th-place finish in Men's Foil?
The 8th-place finish grants India's Men's Foil team a direct qualification berth for the Asian Games, marking a significant milestone in the country's fencing development and one of the most tangible competitive results for Indian fencing at the continental level.
