Fencer Song Se-ra wins bronze at Asian Championships amid equipment challenges

South Korean fencer Song Se-ra has secured a bronze medal in the women's épée individual competition at the 2026 Asian Championships held in Delhi, India. Ranked third globally in women's épée, Song was aiming for a repeat of her 2025 championship title but was defeated 15-7 in the semifinals by Iryna Balydina of Kazakhstan, settling for third place.

Adding to the team's success, Yoon Jeong-hyeon and Im Cheol-woo also clinched bronze medals in the men's foil individual event on the same day. Overall, the South Korean fencing team concluded the individual portion of the championships with one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals.

The team's performance was achieved despite considerable difficulties. The Korean Fencing Federation has been experiencing operational disruptions due to a protest and blockade at its offices in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, related to a ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections. This situation hindered the federation's work, forcing athletes to borrow personal equipment from their respective teams as they were unable to retrieve their fencing gear.