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Kim Jae-won out of men's epee after loss to Japan's Koki Kano

Published: 28 Jul. 2024, 22:02 Updated: 29 Jul. 2024, 17:36

PAIK JI-HWAN
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Korea's Kim Jae-won, left, and Japan's Koki Kano compete in the men's individual Epee table of 32 during the Paris Olympics at Grand Palais in Paris on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Korean fencer Kim Jae-won lost 14-12 to Koki Kano of Japan on Sunday in the men’s epee individual table of 32 at the Paris Olympics at Grand Palais in Paris, ending Korea’s last chance of medaling in the discipline.

Kim, 26, was the only Korean in the table of 32 in the men's discipline and failed to keep his hope for a medal alive. His exit means Korea will not win an individual epee medal at this year’s Games in either the men's or women's competition.

Had he medaled, he would have become the second Korean fencer to medal in Paris after Oh Sang-uk, who won a gold medal in the men’s individual sabre final on Saturday.

Oh’s gold was the first gold medal for Korea at this year’s Olympics.

A female Korean fencer has yet to medal so far in the competition. Kang Young-mi, Lee Hye-jin and Song Se-ra all made an exit in the women’s epee individual event before the table of eight on Saturday, ending Korea’s run to medal in the discipline.

They can still win a medal in the team competition, that starts on Monday. Korea won silver in the women's team epee event at the last Games.

Korea has won 16 medals in fencing and claimed five — one gold, one silver and three bronze — at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly introduced Japan's Koki Kano as "Kano Koki," flipping his surname with his first name.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]