🇰🇷 OLYMPIC CHAMPION OH SANGUK TRIUMPHS IN SALT LAKE CITY
Updated: Aug 5
SALT LAKE CITY, USA – 24 JANUARY 2026
Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Oh Sanguk (KOR) reasserted his dominance on the world stage, capturing his sixth career World Cup title at the Men’s Sabre World Cup in Salt Lake City. The South Korean star, currently ranked twelfth in the world, displayed peak form throughout the day, defeating Japan’s Kokubo Mao 15-12 in a high-intensity final.
Kokubo Mao (JPN) secured the silver medal, marking a major milestone as his first-ever individual senior World Cup podium. The reigning Asian Championship bronze medallist proved he belongs among the elite after a giant-killing run through the bracket.
The bronze medals were awarded to the tournament's surprise package, Cosimo Bertini (ITA), and Egypt’s Ziad Elsissy. Bertini, ranked seventy-sixth, produced a legendary underdog performance starting from the qualification rounds, while Elsissy, a two-time African Champion, collected his fourth career World Cup bronze.
Path to the Podium
Oh Sanguk’s journey to gold required a blend of survival and dominance. He opened with a narrow 15-14 victory over Kostenko (AIN) before settling into a rhythm. His most significant test came in the round of 16 against World number five Ahmed Hesham (EGY), whom he defeated 15-10. Following a 15-6 masterclass in the semi-finals against Bertini, Oh maintained his composure to hold off Kokubo in the final.
Kokubo Mao (JPN) reached the final by taking down the World’s top-ranked fencer, reigning World Champion Sandro Bazadze (GEO), with a commanding 15-8 victory in the round of 16. He followed this by edging out Asian Champion Do Gyeongdong (KOR) 15-14 in the quarter-finals and defeating Elsissy 15-11 in the semi-finals.
Cosimo Bertini (ITA) was the story of the weekend. Entering as the ninety-third seed in the preliminary rounds, he fought his way onto the main stage where he proceeded to eliminate two icons of the sport: reigning Olympic silver medallist Fares Ferjani (TUN) 15-11 in the 64, and three-time Olympic Champion Aron Szilagyi (HUN) 15-14 in a classic round of 16 encounter. Though he eventually fell to Oh, his bronze medal marks a massive breakthrough for the 20-year-old.
Ziad Elsissy (EGY) demonstrated his world-class consistency by reaching the final four. His path included a 15-12 win over the Algiers World Cup winner, Colin Heathcock (USA), in the round of 16, and a nail-biting 15-14 quarter-final victory over Romania's Vlad Covaliu.
