The All Japan Fencing Championships started in Tokyo from the 8th, and the men's epee individual won the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics group, and Kano Koki, who is aiming for the second consecutive victory in the tournament, advanced to the final.
The All Japan Fencing Championship will be held for three days from the 8th at the Komazawa Gymnasium in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, up to the semi-finals of six men's and women's individual competitions.
On the 8th, men's and women's individual épée competitions were held, and in the men's épée competition, Kano and Yu Yamada, members of the group that won Japan's first gold medal in fencing at the Tokyo Olympics, advanced to the semi-finals. .
The match developed into a fierce battle in the early stages, but from the middle stage, Kano accumulated points with quick thrusts and counters, and took advantage of his defensive characteristics to take the lead, pushing the match to 12-5. and won 15-10 to advance to the final.
In addition, Kazuyasu Minobu, who was a member of the team that won the gold medal at the Tokyo Games and won the first silver medal in the men's epee individual at the World Championships this year, lost to Keisuke Sakamoto in the semi-finals and advanced to the finals. It didn't work.
The finals of the six men's and women's events are scheduled to be held in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo in November this year.
Kano aiming for 2nd consecutive victory ``Decisively sticking to my play''
Koki Kano, who is aiming to win the tournament for the second time in a row, said, "Today, we lost two games in the qualifying rounds, so I didn't get off to a good start, but I'm relieved that I managed to make it to the finals. It was a tough fight against an opponent I knew what to expect, but I was able to win and it gave me confidence," he said with a smile.
Regarding facing the 38-year-old Sakamoto in the final, he said, "My opponent is a veteran player, but I can't afford to lose. I will do my best to stick to my style and win back-to-back titles."