Paris - South Korean fencer Oh Sang-uk clinched the gold medal in men’s individual sabre at the Paris Summer Games on Saturday, marking a historic win as he becomes the first South Korean man to secure an individual gold in the discipline.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the world-ranked number four, Oh, outscored Tunisia’s Fares Ferjani, ranked 14th, with a score of 15-11 in a bout held at the Grand Palais. Despite the final score reflecting a close contest, Oh largely controlled the match, making strategic advances that culminated in a dominant early lead. This victory not only represents South Korea's first gold of the Olympics but also continues the nation's streak of winning at least one gold on the first day of competition since 2008.
Oh’s performance is part of a broader pattern of success, with the fencer now having won individual golds across all four major competitions relevant to Asian fencers: the Olympics, Asian Games, World Championships, and Asian Championships. This feat adds to his earlier success as part of the gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, with another team event approaching next Wednesday in Paris.
During the match, after an initial tie at 3-3, Oh surged to an 11-4 lead, nearly sealing the match before Ferjani’s late rally brought the score to 14-11. However, Oh secured the victory with a decisive final point, reinforcing his dominance in the sport. This win at Grand Palais holds special significance for Oh, mirroring a historic moment from November 2010 when his coach, Won Woo-young, won the world championship in the same venue, becoming the first Asian to do so.
Oh’s victory adds to South Korea's illustrious history at the Grand Palais and gives the nation another Olympic triumph to celebrate.