NHK

Japan wins first-ever men's team foil gold at Fencing World Championships

Japan has triumphed at the Fencing World Championships, clinching its first ever men's team foil title with victory over China in the final.

The win came on the final day of the event, which took place in Milan from July 22 through 30, with qualifying points for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on offer.

The Japanese team of Matsuyama Kyosuke, Shikine Takahiro, Iimura Kazuki and Suzumura Kenta, ranked third in the world, overcame South Korea 45-41 in the quarterfinal, and Hong Kong 45-35 in the semifinal.

In the final against China, Japan's Shikine gave up a five-point lead in the first bout, but Iimura narrowed the gap to 9-10 in the second bout, before Matsuyama put Japan ahead 15-14 in the third.

The Japanese fencers continued to rack up points in subsequent bouts to complete a come-from-behind victory 45-35.

The win gives Japan its first gold in the men's team foil at the world championships, and its first medal at the event since 2010, when the foil team won bronze.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230731_14/