Oh Sang-uk, 30, the face of South Korean fencing, won back-to-back Asian Games titles after fighting through an injury.
Oh, ranked third in the world, beat China's Shen Chenpeng 15-13 in the men's individual sabre final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held on the 23rd at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The medal was the eighth gold won by the South Korean team at the Games and the second in fencing, following Song Se-ra of the Busan Metropolitan City team in the women's individual epee a day earlier. Oh, a double gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, successfully defended the individual title he won at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, confirming his standing as Asia's premier swordsman. Oh competes for the Daejeon Metropolitan City team.
With Oh's second consecutive win, South Korea has now claimed the men's individual sabre gold at five straight Asian Games. Koo Bon-gil won three in a row at the 2010 Guangzhou, 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games.
The path to gold was not smooth. Oh ran into unexpected trouble early in the final. As he scored his first point, his feet became tangled with his opponent's and he bruised his right ankle. He received a medical check and had a pain-relief spray applied, but his movement slowed. His footwork dulled in the middle of the bout, and he conceded several points in a row.
Oh's resolve outlasted the injury. Trailing 11-13 in a tight contest and facing elimination, he appeared to forget the pain, landing his trademark long lunges and using his height advantage for quick counterattacks. He swept four straight points for a thrilling comeback and the gold medal.
Having retained his individual title, Oh will compete in the men's team sabre event on the 26th, aiming for a second consecutive Games double.
