South Korea Upsets Japan in Asian Games Handball and Fencing Showdowns

South Korea’s women’s handball team secured the Asian Games title by defeating Japan 27-23 in the final round-robin match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games, ending an eight-year title drought.

South Korea Women's Handball Beats Japan for First Asian Games Gold in 8 Years South Korea Women's Handball to Face Japan in Gold Medal Showdown Decisive Blow with 37 Seconds Left... South Korea Beats Japan to Reach Final in 12 Years [AG Video]

On the same schedule, the South Korean men’s épée fencing team edged Japan 38-37 in the semifinal, guaranteeing at least a silver medal and a place in the gold-medal bout later that evening.

Decisive Blow with 37 Seconds Left... South Korea Beats Japan to Reach Final in 12 Years [AG Video]

Women’s handball has been a South Korean stronghold, with eight titles out of ten Asian Games since 1990. A coaching change brought back Lee Kye-cheong, the architect of the 2018 gold.

South Korea Women's Handball Beats Japan for First Asian Games Gold in 8 Years

In men’s épée, South Korea captured three consecutive titles (2006-2014) before taking bronze in 2018 and 2022. Japan had claimed the last two team titles and earned a silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Decisive Blow with 37 Seconds Left... South Korea Beats Japan to Reach Final in 12 Years [AG Video]

• Women’s Handball: Wins over Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and Vietnam preceded the 27-23 victory over Japan.

South Korea Women's Handball Beats Japan for First Asian Games Gold in 8 Years

• Men’s Épée: After a bye, South Korea beat Uzbekistan 45-33, China 45-36 and Japan 38-37 in overtime, with Jang Hyo-min delivering the decisive touch.

South Korea's men's épée team beats Japan, reaches final for first time in 12 years

• Historical Record: Women’s handball – 8 titles in 10 editions; men’s épée – 3 consecutive titles (2006-2014) followed by two bronzes (2018, 2022).

South Korea Women's Handball Beats Japan for First Asian Games Gold in 8 Years

Head coach Lee Gye-chung said the team erased the “pain of a 10-goal defeat” from the 2022 final, citing fast-break strategy and wing attacks.

South Korea Women's Handball to Face Japan in Gold Medal Showdown

Lee Kye-cheong highlighted restoring South Korea’s “Asian throne” on Japanese soil.

South Korea Women's Handball Beats Japan for First Asian Games Gold in 8 Years

The fencing squad credited roster depth—Park Sang-young, Jang Hyo-min, Nam Yeon-ho and Kwon O-min—for the comeback after trailing early.

Decisive Blow with 37 Seconds Left... South Korea Beats Japan to Reach Final in 12 Years [AG Video]

The handball triumph reasserts South Korea’s dominance in the sport and may influence future funding for women’s team sports.

South Korea Women's Handball Beats Japan for First Asian Games Gold in 8 Years

The fencing win disrupts Japan’s recent ascendancy in épée and positions South Korea for a top podium finish ahead of the 2028 Olympic cycle.

South Korea's men's épée team beats Japan, reaches final for first time in 12 years

The men’s épée gold-medal bout is slated for 6:40 PM the same day, pitting South Korea against the winner of the Hong Kong-Kazakhstan semifinal, with the chance to add a fourth consecutive Asian Games épée title.

Decisive Blow with 37 Seconds Left... South Korea Beats Japan to Reach Final in 12 Years [AG Video]