Korean fencer Ha Tae-gyu knocked from men's foil

A gold by Oh Sang-uk in the men’s individual sabre event remains the only fencing medal Korea has secured at this year’s Olympics as of press time Monday.

Korean fencer Ha Tae-gyu, right, competes against Carlos Llavador of Spain in the men's foil individual table of 32 at the Paris Olympics at Grand Palais in Paris on Monday. [AP/YONHAP]

Korean fencer Ha Tae-gyu lost 15-13 to Carlos Llavador of Spain in the men’s foil individual table of 32 at the Paris Olympics at Grand Palais in Paris on Monday, ending his dream for his first Olympic medal in the discipline.

Ha’s loss blows a chance for Korea to add another medal in fencing. A gold by Oh Sang-uk in the men’s individual sabre event remains the only medal in the sport the country has secured at this year’s Olympics as of press time Monday.

The loss means no Olympic medal will be added to his medal-rich career, including three Asian Games medals and 13 medals from the Asian Fencing Championships.

Other Korean fencers, excluding Oh, have struggled at this year’s Olympics.

Kim Jae-won lost to Koki Kano of Japan on Sunday in the men’s epee individual table of 32.

His exit meant no medal for Korea in an individual epee medal race in either the men’s or women’s competition. Kang Young-mi, Lee Hye-jin and Song Se-ra all made an exit in the women’s epee individual event before the table of eight on Saturday, ending Korea’s run in the discipline.

Korea has won 16 medals in fencing and claimed five — one gold, one silver and three bronze — at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]