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South Korea rule Asian Fencing Championship in Doha

DOHA, November 19, 2009: South Korean fencers ruled the 2009 Asian Fencing Championship by winning 6 of the 12 titles at stake on the concluding day at the Aspire.

It was the South Korean women on Thursday, who won foil team gold beating China 45/34 in the epic final.

China who had an early lead failed to match up with the South Korean ace Hyun Hee Nam and Hee Sook Jeon who brought the team back in the game.

“China had an upper-hand in the beginning of the match, but Nam and pulled it back just in time,” said South Korean foil coach Jae Kyung Kim.

“I am really happy with our overall performance in the championship and I hope we continue in this level in future,” Kim added.

Hong Kong and Japan bagged bronze respectively.

In men’s sabre team final, China defeated Japan 45/35 to win their fourth gold in the six-day championship.

China’s sabre head coach, Christian Bauer had felt the pressure before the final as his fencers looked tired and unfit.

“Final wasn’t very good, fencers were exhausted after our busy schedule, they had little time to rest. But, they done remarkably well to win gold,” said the Frenchman Bauer.

Kazakhstan and Korea took bronze medals.

South Korea toppled the overall standings with six gold, three silver and eight bronze, ahead of strong Chinese team with four gold, six silver and five bronze.

Japan was third in the table with two gold, one silver and five bronze. Hong Kong took one silver and four bronze for fourth place, while Kazakhstan was the other team in the medals standing with a silver and bronze medal apiece.