Coach Won Woo-young emphasizes Oh Sang-wook's mental strength to achieve two gold medals despite back pain

Tokoname [Japan] = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Song-ah = National team coach Won Woo-young, who led the team to victory in the men's saber individual and team fencing events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, said that 'two-gold winner' Oh Sang-wook (Daejeon Metropolitan City Hall) endured back pain during the competition and overcame it with mental strength.

Coach Won, who met with Yonhap News at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan on the 27th, the day after Korea won its fourth consecutive title in the men's saber team event at the Asian Games, looked back on the competition and said, "Of course, I prepared with the thought of winning two gold medals, and I expected to win both gold medals, but I had no idea it would be this difficult."

The men's saber team defeated Japan 45-44 in the Asian Games team finals the day before and recorded its fourth consecutive victory. On the 23rd, Oh Sang-wook won his second consecutive individual title and successfully defended his title in the team match.

In particular, in the final of the team event against Japan, the team was in danger as they were pushed back 41-44 in the final 9th ​​round by Oh Sang-wook after allowing Japan to come back in the second half of the game, but Oh Sang-wook made a comeback by scoring an unbelievable four consecutive points and took home the gold medal.

Coach Won smiled and said, “I am especially grateful to the players, especially Sang-wook. I thought I had a lot of experience in life, but a new experience was added.”

At the same time, Coach Won said that Oh Sang-wook suffered from back pain after winning the individual competition. Oh Sang-wook prepared for the Asian Games while suffering from a lumbar disc herniation (disc) throughout last season.

Coach Won explained, "Oh Sang-wook intensively strengthened his back and did rehabilitation training, but this alone has its limits. Even at the World Championships in July, his movements were not performed properly," and added, "He prepared more intensively for the Asian Games than for the World Championships."

He continued, “I persevered in the individual competition, and I wondered if I could survive the team competition, but I persevered and persevered,” adding, “Yesterday, I was like, ‘Is this going to happen?’ I was speechless when I saw him powerfully performing lunge-like movements. It was literally crazy. “It’s absolutely ridiculous, and I can only say it’s mental power,” he said, sticking his tongue out.

In addition to Oh Sang-wook's injury, the referee's decision in this tournament could also have been a variable in the men's saber team's challenge for its fourth consecutive victory. In the finals of the team event, several unclear decisions were made, leading to Oh Sang-wook directly expressing his dissatisfaction at the end of the game.

Coach Won said, "I thought there would be home territory and prepared with the players, but when I actually experienced it, I was even more embarrassed. I don't dwell on the decisions, but there were harsh aspects. The players were also very excited, but tried to focus on the game, but in the end, Oh Sang-wook was Oh Sang-wook."

Coach Won, who helped the team win the team event at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Incheon Asian Games as a player, won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and this year's Asian Games as a national team leader.

Coach Won, who led the national team to the Asian Games for the first time, said, "I won a gold medal when I was an athlete, but I had no idea the Asian Games were this difficult. I think it was a competition where I overcame difficult situations and learned once again. I feel humbled again."

The journey to the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics begins quickly without even a moment to catch your breath. The men's saber team is competing in LA and the Olympics with the goal of winning the individual and team competitions.

Coach Won said, "We must protect the double crown. More than anything, Oh Sang-wook's physical condition is important," and added, "We will take care of him so that he does not injure his back or ankles further."

He expressed confidence, saying, "I don't know who will be in the entry list yet, but I will prepare for Do Gyeong-dong and Park Sang-won, who are likely to back up Oh Sang-wook, to work together better. If we can play more solidly with these members, LA will also look positively because they are capable players."

Regarding the situation in which Korean fencing lost its overall championship for the fifth time in a row in this competition, Coach Won said, "Other Asian countries have invested a lot and have come a long way. There are countries that are raising athletes almost like living in Europe," and emphasized, "The generation after Oh Sang-wook may face an even more difficult situation when competing with such athletes. It is important to nurture the younger generation."