🇯🇵 UENO YUKA DEFENDS ASIAN FOIL TITLE IN ALL-JAPANESE SHOWDOWN

DELHI, INDIA — 19 JUNE 2026

Japan’s World number four Ueno Yuka demonstrated her absolute regional supremacy on the opening day of the 2026 Asian Fencing Championships, successfully defending her individual continental crown. Competing in Delhi, the reigning Asian Champion capped off a flawless individual tournament by out-pointing her international teammate Azuma Sera 15–10 in an all-Japanese gold medal final.

The magnificent victory highlights a highly decorated season for Ueno, who adds the Asian title to a glittering collection of silver medals captured at the Palma World Cup, Busan World Cup and Shanghai Grand Prix earlier in the campaign.

While Azuma secured her second career Asian Championship silver medal, Hong Kong’s rising star Chan Nok Sze Daphne and Japan’s veteran Kikuchi Komaki stood proud as the individual bronze medallists.

Path to the Podium

Ueno Yuka (World number four) set a blistering tone in the morning session, sweeping all six of her poule matches to lock down the number one overall seed for the direct elimination stages. Following an opening first-round bye, the defending champion executed a 15–2 demolition of the Philippines' Sophia Catantan before turning aside South Korea's Sim 15–9. Ueno maintained her ruthless form by cruising past China's Fu 15–4 in the quarter-finals and defeating her teammate Kikuchi 15–12 in a high-intensity semi-final bout, before subduing Azuma to seal the gold.

Azuma Sera (World number 16) manufactured a phenomenal run through the bracket to claim a well-deserved silver medal, adding to the Grand Prix bronze medals she won in Turin and Cairo earlier this season. Seeded 11th after winning five of her six poule matches, Azuma safely advanced past Taiwan's Ting 15–9 before putting on a defensive masterclass to choke out China's world number 37 Huang 11–3. The Japanese foilist then comfortably eliminated Hong Kong's Cheung 15–8 and fought past Chan 15–12 in the semi-finals, before falling short against Ueno.

Chan Nok Sze Daphne (World number 28) celebrated an exceptional career milestone, navigating a difficult path to capture her first ever senior international individual medal. The Hong Kong talent locked down the number six seed following a perfect 5–0 sweep in the poules. After an opening bye, Chan showed immense mental fortitude to edge past South Korea's world number 46 S. Lee 15–13 and dispatch world number 25 Park 15–9. She guaranteed her historic bronze medal podium by pulling off a brilliant 15–12 quarter-final upset over Japan's world number 12 Tsuji Sumire.

Kikuchi Komaki (World number nine) reestablished her elite continental pedigree, securing her second consecutive individual Asian Championship bronze medal. The 2018 Asian Champion opened her elimination account with a 15–4 rout of Kazakhstan's Ulyana Gnoyeva before navigating a tough 15–12 fight against Hong Kong's Leung. Kikuchi booked her return to the podium by out-pointing China's world number 30 Mo 15–12 in the quarter-finals, adding this continental medal to the bronze prizes she collected at the Palma World Cup and Turin Grand Prix earlier in the year.

Full results are here.