Iran settles for Asian team saber silver
Iran bagged the silver medal of the men’s team saber contests at the Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China, on Tuesday.
Having beaten Japan in the semifinals earlier in the day, the Iranian four-man team – comprising Farzad Baher, Mohammad Fotouhi, Ali Pakdaman, and Mohammad Rahbari – suffered a 45-28 defeat against reigning world and Olympic champion South Korea in the final showpiece.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Kim Jung-hwan was joined by Gu Bon-gil, Kim Jun-ho, and Oh Sang-uk in the South Korean team.
China and Japan took the joint bronze medals.
This was a fourth Asian silver in five years for the Iranian saber team, which had to share the third podium with Hong Kong last year in Seoul.
Tuesday’s result came after Pakdaman and Rahbari had won the individual gold and bronze medals in Wuxi respectively.
Pakdaman edged Kim Jun-ho – a world bronze winner in 2018 – 15-14 in a thrilling final.
Beaten by the South Korean in the last-four contest, Rahbari stood alongside Low Ho Tin of Hong Kong on the third podium.