Kazuyasu Minobe won the silver medal in individual men's epee Tuesday at the fencing world championships in Cairo, Japan's first-ever podium finish in the event at worlds level.
The 35-year-old Minobe, who was part of the gold-winning Tokyo Olympic team last summer, beat countrymen Masaru Yamada in the round of 16 and Koki Kano in the round of eight to reach the semis.
He then outscored Ukraine's Igor Reizlin 13-12 in the semifinals but was beaten by French Olympic champion Romain Cannone 15-12 in the final at the Indoor Halls Complex of the Cairo International Stadium.
"I survived tight matches against fellow Japanese fencers, but the medal could've gone to any of us. That's why it's all the more frustrating that I couldn't win the final match and prove Japan's strength," Minobe said.
According to the International Fencing Federation, France has won the individual men's epee world title more than any other country.
