Fencers from host South Korea enjoyed a banner performance at the Asian Games over the first week of the 16-day competition, leading all countries in medals on the piste.

The fencing component ended on Thursday, with South Korea having added a silver in the women’s epee team event and a bronze in the men’s foil team event.

Overall, South Korea collected eight gold, six silver and three bronze medals and became the first country in Asiad fencing history to win at least eight gold medals in a single competition. South Korea in 2010 and China in 1990 and 2006 had each won seven gold medals.

South Korea also won at least one medal in all 12 events.

In six individual events, three finals saw two South Koreans go toe-to-toe for the gold medal, a testament to the country’s depth in the sport.

In the women’s saber, Lee Ra-jin defeated Kim Ji-yeon, the 2012 Olympic champ. Jung Jin-sun beat Park Kyoung-doo for the men’s epee gold. And Gu Bon-gil had the upper hand over Kim Jung-hwan for the men’s saber title.

Lee, Jung, Gu and the female foil fencer Jeon Hee-sook were all double gold medalists, taking both the individual and the team titles.

Such a level of dominance should have been expected. At the Asian championships held in South Korea two months ago, South Korea swept up nine gold medals, including all six individual titles, to send a stern warning to the rest of the continent.

The strong showing in Incheon also bodes well for South Korea’s chances at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The previous Olympics in London signaled the beginning of a renaissance for South Korean fencing. The country grabbed two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, ranking second, behind only Italy, in the fencing medal table. (Yonhap)