Oh Sang-uk dethrones reigning sabre champion Gu Bon-gil in all-Korean final

Korea won both gold and silver in the Asian Games men’s sabre on Monday as Oh Sang-uk and Gu Bon-gil faced off in an all-Korean final at Hangzhou Dianzi University Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

Oh Sang-uk celebrates after beating Gu Bon-gil in the men's individual sabre finals at the Asian games at Hangzhou Dianzi University Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Monday. [NEWS1]

Korea won both gold and silver in the Asian Games men’s sabre on Monday as Oh Sang-uk and Gu Bon-gil faced off in an all-Korean final at Hangzhou Dianzi University Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

Oh, 26, emerged victorious, beating his older teammate and the long-time reigning Asian Games champion Gu, 34, 15-7 to take the title.

Oh took the initiative from the start, taking a 2-0 lead at the top of the first period before Gu fought back to a 2-2 standstill. The two traded blows until the end of the first period, when Oh held a slim 8-7 lead.

The younger fencer surged ahead in the second period, scoring seven quick points without allowing Gu to break through to secure the gold medal.

Oh Sang-uk and Gu Bon-gil embrace after Oh beating reigning champion Gu in the men's individual sabre finals at the Asian games at Hangzhou Dianzi University Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Monday. [NEWS1]

Oh and Gu are both Olympic gold medalists, having won the sabre team event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics together. Gu also won the team event at London 2012 and has been the reigning Asian Games gold medalist for the last 13 years, since the 2010 Guangzhou Games.

Monday’s bout was the second all-Korean final at the Asian Games so far, after Song Se-ra and Choi In-jeong squared off in the women’s épée final on Sunday. Choi took gold after a close-fought final, beating teammate Song by a single point to win 9-8.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]