🇯🇵 MATSUYAMA KYOSUKE RECLAIMS ASIAN FOIL CROWN IN ALL-JAPANESE SHOWDOWN

NEW DELHI, INDIA — 21 JUNE 2026

Japan’s World number 20 Matsuyama Kyosuke produced a phenomenal tactical display on the third day of the 2026 Asian Fencing Championships, reclaiming his individual men’s foil continental title. Competing in New Delhi, the 2023 World Championship bronze medallist out-duelled his international teammate Iimura Kazuki 15–13 in an absorbing, high-speed gold medal match to bring the individual events of the championships to a spectacular close.

The magnificent victory marks Matsuyama's first individual international podium of the season. He reclaims the zonal crown he first won in 2024, continuing a stellar period of dominance for the Japanese men's foil programme.

While Iimura added a proud silver to his 2024 Asian silver medal, Korea’s Im Cheolwoo and Youn Jeonghyun both walked away with the individual bronze medals.

Path to the Podium

Matsuyama Kyosuke (World number 20) established an aggressive rhythm early in the morning session, winning five of his six poule fights to enter the knockout phase as the number nine seed. He launched his direct elimination campaign with a pair of routine 15–5 victories over Bahrain’s Ali Alamiri and Singapore’s Samuel Elijah Robson. After dismantling Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yi-Tung 15–6 in the round of 16, Matsuyama faced a monumental challenge against World number two and reigning World and Asian Champion Choi Chun Yin Ryan of Hong Kong. Relying on superb distance control, the Japanese star executed a masterclass to dethrone the champion 15–11. He then booked his place in the final by outlasting Korea's Youn 15–12 in a tense semi-final fight.

Iimura Kazuki (World number 10) put together a world-class run through the bottom half of the draw to secure his second career Asian Championship individual medal. Seeded tenth after matching Matsuyama with five poule wins, Iimura routinely dispatched Bahrain’s Saad 15–5, Chinese Taipei’s Hsu 15–7 and Australia’s Glasson 15–6. His definitive test came in the quarter-finals, where he held his nerve in a heart-stopping 15–14 thriller against China’s Lyu Weiqiao. Iimura then guaranteed his spot in the gold medal match by subduing Korea's Im 15–10 in the semi-finals but he ultimately could not unravel Matsuyama in the final.

Im Cheolwoo (World number 45) emerged as an exceptional surprise package for Korea, navigating a highly competitive path to capture his first ever senior individual international medal. Entering the knockout bracket as the 15th seed, Im logged dominant wins over Australia’s Bosnic 15–10, Chinese Taipei’s World number 29 Chen Chih Chieh 15–7 and China’s World number 22 Zeng 15–11. He locked down his historic bronze medal in the quarter-finals, pulling off a spectacular 15–13 giant-killing upset against Hong Kong's iconic two-time Olympic Champion Cheung Ka Long.

Youn Jeonghyun (World number 33) ensured Korea earned two spots on the individual podium, producing a flawless preliminary run to replicate his bronze medal performance from the 2025 Asian Championships. Youn looked completely untouchable in the morning session, sweeping all six of his poule fights to secure the number five seed. Following an opening bye, he comfortably turned aside Malaysia’s Cheng 15–7 and the Philippines’ Samuel Tranquilan 15–8. Youn booked his return to the continental podium by fending off Japan’s World number 28 Shunsuke Baba 15–12 in a highly tactical quarter-final battle before falling to Matsuyama.

Full results are here.