PARIS — South Korea secured the silver medal in the women's sabre fencing team event at the Paris Olympics, succumbing to Ukraine in the final moments of the competition. The South Korean team, ranked fourth globally, was defeated by the third-ranked Ukrainian team with a close score of 45-42 at the Grand Palais.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean quartet, composed of Jeon Eun-hye, Jeon Ha-young, Choi Se-bin, and alternate Yoon Ji-su, aimed to capture the country's first gold in this category. Despite leading 40-37 as they entered the final bout, South Korea watched as Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan overturned the deficit, scoring 8-2 against Jeon Ha-young in a dramatic finish. This victory marked Ukraine's first gold medal in the Paris games.
The match featured a series of nine bouts, with each bout lasting up to three minutes or until a team’s cumulative score reached a multiple of five, targeting the first team to achieve 45 points. The South Korean team had previously won bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, with Yoon Ji-su being the sole returning member from that lineup. The team's journey included solid performances, such as Jeon Eun-hye's initial lead over Yuliia Bakastova, which was crucial in establishing an early advantage.
Despite the fierce competition and a promising lead, it was Kharlan's decisive performance in the sixth bout and the final moments that clinched the gold for Ukraine. South Korea concluded its fencing campaign at the Paris Olympics with this event, adding a silver to its previous golds in the men's sabre individual and team events.