Japan won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the men's team of fencing.

This is the first time Japan has won a gold medal in fencing.

It was the "reserve members" of the team competition that greatly contributed to Japan's advancement.

29-year-old reserve member

The gold medal of the long-cherished desire of the Japanese fencing world.

We achieved a feat that even Yuki Ota couldn't do with Epe, which is considered to be the thickest event in the world.


It was Satoru Uyama, 29, who was a "reserve member" of the team competition, who made a big contribution to this Japanese advance.


The first round against the United States.

Japan was inferior, chasing 22 to 28 and 6 points after seven team games with nine games.


"


Is

n't it anymore ..."

Japan makes a bold decision in the midst of such an atmosphere at the venue.


In place of Kazuyasu Minobe, the captain of the organization that has been leading the Japanese men's epee for many years, Uyama of the reserve was introduced in the eighth game.

Uyama is good at counters that match the opponent's attacks.


However, in this game, he continued to take points by pushing the opponent to the edge of the fixie without being passive, saying, "I will put pressure on the opponent and make it my mood."


A unique stance while swinging the tip of the sword.

An anomalous tactic that quickly crouches and disappears from the opponent's field of vision.

The American player, who had been scoring so far, could not get a clue to the attack, and Uyama caught up to 29 to 31 by 2 points, calling for a dramatic come-from-behind victory in Japan.

Uyama faced the team battle with a stronger feeling than anyone else.


Runner-up at last year's All Japan Championship.

And although the world ranking has continued to leave results for the Olympics with the third 15th place among Japanese players, it is not selected as the three representatives of individual competition in the selection process, and it is a reserve that can participate only in team competition. It became.


Before the tournament, he decided to fulfill his role, saying, "I have no choice but to hit the group with the regret that I can't participate individually. If I participate, I will definitely score and change the flow."

As Uyama said, the following quarterfinals and semifinals also contributed to Japan's victory.


In the final against the Russian Olympic Committee, he took 8 points including 6 consecutive points from the opponent's ace, who ranked 2nd in the world ranking, and decided the flow of Japan's dominance.

In the interview after the game, "I've been waiting for this day and prepared for a long time. I felt like hitting my fencing in the final, and looking back now, it was fun without regrets." rice field.


In addition, Captain Minobe revealed that the point was to appoint Uyama, saying, "Everyone in the team understood the explosive power of Uyama, and it was important where to use that explosive power."



The members of this group, who are said to be the "strongest in history" in the Japanese men's epee, with the top players in the world ranking.

The success of Uyama, a substitute player who symbolizes the thickness of that layer, gave Japan the first gold medal feat.