🇰🇷 SOUTH KOREA CLINCHES ASTANA TEAM GOLD TO CROWN DOMINANT DISCIPLINE RUN
Updated: Aug 5
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN — 29 MARCH 2026
The top-seeded Republic of Korea captured their first team gold medal of the season at the Astana Women’s Épée World Cup, culminating a spectacular multi-podium campaign. The world number 1 squad—comprising individual gold medallist Song Sera, Lee Hyein, Lim Taehee and Park Sohyeong—put on a masterclass in tactical spacing to defeat the USA 45–34 in a high-stakes final.
Korea’s golden run adds to their highly consistent season resume, which already boasts a bronze from the season opener in Busan alongside consecutive silver medals from the Fujairah and Wuxi World Cups.
The USA took home the silver medal, securing their second team podium of the campaign following their victory in Fujairah. Meanwhile, Italy locked up the bronze medal, and France concluded their weekend in fourth place.
Path to the Podium
South Korea (World number 1) cruised through their opening match against Sweden before encountering a sturdy challenge from world number 7 Hungary in the quarter-finals, prevailing 45–35. In the semi-finals, they engaged in a thrilling, high-octane chess match against their familiar rivals, Italy, securing a hard-fought 45–40 win. They carried that stellar momentum straight into the final, establishing an early lead against the Americans and comfortably dictating the tempo to secure an 11-touch victory.
The USA (World number 2) earned their spot in the final with an exceptionally rigid defensive display through the upper bracket. The lineup of Hadley Husisian, Charlene Liu, Catherine Nixon and Tierna Oxenreider completely locked down their opponents in the early rounds, smothering world number 8 Poland 39–21 in the quarter-finals. They followed up by applying a similar defensive chokehold against France in the semi-finals, easing to a comfortable 37–28 win.
Italy (World number 4) bounced back from their semi-final loss to claim the bronze medal, defeating France in the third-place play-off. The Italian quartet of Rossella Fiamingo, Lucrezia Paulis, Giulia Rizzi and Alberta Santuccio demonstrated great emotional resilience to log their third team bronze of the season, matching their previous third-place finishes from Vancouver and Wuxi. Their day was highlighted by a disciplined 37–28 quarter-final victory over world number 6 Estonia.
France (World number 3) showcased a massive return to form despite missing out on a medal. The squad—featuring Marie-Florence Candassamy, Alexandra Louis Marie, Jade Sersot and Aliya Luty—battled past world number 5 China 45–42 in a phenomenal quarter-final duel, securing their first top-4 team finish of the season.
