(Asian Games) Another golden day in taekwondo, fencing; wrestler defends title

By Yoo Jee-ho and Joo Kyung-don

JAKARTA, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea picked up gold medals in taekwondo and fencing for the second straight day at the 18th Asian Games on Tuesday, while a Greco-Roman wrestler successfully defended his title.

Lee Da-bin in taekwondo won the first gold medal of the day for South Korea, triumphing in the women's over-67 kilogram competition over Deniz Cansel of Kazakhstan.

Lee was the 2014 Asian Games champion in the 62kg class, and won her second Asiad gold in a heavier division this time.

It was South Korea's second gold in taekwondo sparring, following Kim Tae-hun's victory in the men's 58kg division on Monday.

South Korea had one other fighter in the final on Tuesday, but Lee Ah-reum took silver in the women's 57kg class after losing to China's Luo Zongshi.

In fencing, Kang Young-mi won the women's individual epee title for South Korea's third gold in the sport. She defeated Sun Yiwen of China 11-7 in the final, after Sun had eliminated South Korean Choi In-jeong in the semis.

Son Young-ki took bronze in the men's individual foil event.

After three days of fencing here, South Korea has collected three gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

After four bronze medals in two days of freestyle competition in wrestling, Ryu Han-su brought South Korea its first wrestling gold in the men's Greco-Roman 67kg event on Tuesday.

Ryu beat Almat Kebispayev of Kazakhstan 5-4 for his second straight Asian Games gold.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, South Korea picked up two more medals from the swimming pool, as rising stars Kim Seo-yeong and An Se-hyeon won silver and bronze, respectively.

Kim finished second in the women's 400m individual medley, while An came in third place in the women's 100m butterfly. South Korea, despite missing its biggest swimming star, Park Tae-hwan, has already won four medals in the sport after three days.

In 2014, South Korea managed just one silver and one bronze, while six medals won by Park were wiped out after his positive doping test.

So far at this year's Asian Games, South Korea has captured eight gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze medals to rank third overall, behind China (30 gold medals) and Japan (12).

South Korea's goal is to win at least 65 gold medals and fend off Japan for second place at the sixth consecutive Asian Games.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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