Japan's bid for a second straight men's team epee fencing gold medal ended in a sudden-death overtime loss to Hungary at the Paris Olympics on Friday, August 2.
Gergely Siklosi scored the decisive hit against Koki Kano as Hungary edged Japan 26-25 in the final at Grand Palais. Kano won the men's individual epee gold a week ago. But he couldn't repeat the heroics this time.
Japan had been trailing but Kano's leg in the seventh period helped his team get back into the match.
The Japanese team of Kano, Masaru Yamada, Akira Komata and Kazuyoshi Minobe trailed 20-18 going into the ninth and final relay.
In the final, the Japanese team had a passivity warning on it, requiring the team to score, or be scored upon, every 60 seconds.
Kano scored the first two touches to tie it at 20-20 before Siklosi put Hungary back in the lead. Japan was down 25-24 and Kano sent the contest to sudden death when he tied it with less than seven seconds left.
But Siklosi, who won silver in the individual epee event at the Tokyo Olympics, scored the gold-medal winning touch just 14 seconds into overtime and Japan was left with the silver.
"I knew Kano was going to equalize it because he is a special fencer," Siklosi said, according to Kyodo News. "So through the whole three minutes, I was preparing for the one touch."
Reflections on Japan Fencing Squad Earning the Silver Medal
Olympic debutant Komata summed up the feelings of the Japanese team.
"I'm a little disappointed we didn't win the gold medal," Komata said, according to Kyodo News. "But I'm happy I was able to win silver at my first Olympics."
Added Komata "I was so nervous in the first match and the semifinals, but the more experienced team members told me I'd be fine if I just fenced as usual and that helped me relax in the final."
When Japan defeated Russia to win the team gold three years ago on home soil, it was the first-ever Olympic gold in fencing. Kano was also a member of that team.
Russia is not taking part in the Paris Games due to its invasion of Ukraine.
For Hungary, it was its first gold medal in the event since the Munich Olympics in 1972.
Earlier Friday, the Czech Republic beat France 43-41 in a tight bout for the bronze medal.
RELATED:
- Koki Kano Gives Japan Its First Individual Olympic Gold in Fencing
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- EDITORIAL | Bravo to the Olympic Athletes Winning in an Early Medal Rush
Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.
