🇰🇿 KAZAKHSTAN DETHRONES JAPAN IN EPIC ENCOUNTER TO RECLAIM ASIAN TEAM EPEE TITLE

NEW DELHI, INDIA — 23 JUNE 2026

The Kazakh men’s epee squad captured a spectacular continental gold medal on the fifth day of the 2026 Asian Fencing Championships, producing a masterful tactical display to down their ultimate regional rivals. Competing in New Delhi, World number six Kazakhstan overturned a late deficit to defeat top seeds Japan 45–40 in a breath-taking gold medal bout.

The high-stakes victory secures Kazakhstan their first international team podium of the season, a welcome breakthrough after an agonising fourth-place finish at the Astana World Cup. The 2025 silver medallists reclaimed the continental crown that they last won in 2024, continuing a remarkable trend. This exact final matchup has been repeated every year since 2023, with the two powerhouse nations alternating the gold and silver medals each season.

While Japan took home the silver, World number 13 Hong Kong secured an emotion-filled, historic bronze medal, leaving a frustrated Korea in fourth place.

Path to the Podium

Team Kazakhstan, fielding a highly disciplined lineup of Kirill Prokhodov, Yerlik Sertay, Vadim Sharlaimov and Nikita Zhulinskiy, received an initial first-round bye before safely defeating Iran 45–27. They advanced past Uzbekistan 45–37 in the quarter-finals to book a semi-final clash against traditional heavyweights Korea.

The Kazakhs edged a tight, time-restricted opening third to lead 9–6 before Prokhodov and Sharlaimov executed a brilliant tactical press, blowing the match open to 26–16 heading into the final three legs. Zhulinskiy came off the bench to replace Sertay in the eighth leg but despite Korea introducing Nam Yeonho for Son Minseong, the Kazakh cushion grew even larger as they cruised to a dominant 45–33 win.

The gold medal match against Japan was an absolute clinic in tactical adjustments. The Japanese trio started sharper, carving out a 13–11 lead after the opening three legs. Sertay turned the tide in the fourth leg, producing a fantastic 9–5 run against individual champion Yamada Masaru to vault Kazakhstan ahead 20–18.

Olympic Champion Kano Koki fired back for Japan, re-establishing a 30–29 Japanese lead after six legs. Kazakhstan knuckled down completely in the final third. Sertay reclaimed a tight 32–31 lead in the seventh, Zhulinskiy protected the narrow margin in the eighth leg and Prokhodov anchored the squad home in style, executing a brilliant 9–5 final-leg run against Kano to seal the Asian title.

Team Japan, represented by Kano Koki, Komata Akira, Yamada Masaru and Asami Seiya, added a proud continental silver to the bronze medal they won earlier in the season at the Astana World Cup, where they had beaten Kazakhstan in the play-off. Seeded second, the reigning champions routed Kyrgyzstan 45–26 and subdued Saudi Arabia 45–31 in the quarter-finals.

They booked their spot in the final with a 45–22 dismantling of Hong Kong. Japan established a comfortable 15–9 cushion across the first three legs and completely dominated the middle relays to build an untouchable 30–16 lead after six fights. Substitutes Lau Ho Fung and Asami faced each other in the penultimate leg but the Japanese momentum remained totally unbothered.

Team Hong Kong, utilising a history-making roster of Ho Wai Hang, Lau Ho Fung, Ng No Tin and Fong Hao Sun, celebrated one of the greatest milestones in their fencing history by capturing the bronze medal. This marked Hong Kong's first ever Asian Championship medal in the men's team epee event, having suffered the immense heartbreak of finishing in fourth place five times in previous years.

Following an initial bye, Hong Kong delivered a statement 45–35 quarter-final victory over World number 14 China. After falling to Japan in the semi-finals, the Hong Kong athletes showed incredible mental resilience in the bronze medal play-off. Facing World number 10 Korea, Hong Kong put together a clinical, unified performance to out-point the favorites 45–40, triggering wild celebrations on their bench as they finally secured their elusive place on the continental podium.

Team Korea, consisting of Park Sangyoung, Kwon Omin, Son Minseong and Nam Yeonho, suffered another deep disappointment to finish in fourth place. The underdogs had looked sharp early in the tournament, subduing Vietnam 43–32 and defeating Chinese Taipei 45–37 in the quarter-finals. However, the performance marks the third consecutive year that the decorated Korean squad has missed out on the Asian Championship podium, failing to replicate the elite form that saw them claim a spectacular silver medal at the Heidenheim World Cup earlier in the season.

Full results here.