Russia's Sergey Bida (left) compete against Japan's Koki Kano in the men's epee team gold medal bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on July 30, 2021. (FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

TOKYO - Japan claimed its first ever Olympic gold in fencing after defeating the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) 45-36 in the men's epee team final at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Japan, who qualified from the preliminary rounds, advanced to the semifinals by stunning the top-ranked France 45-44

The team of Kano Koki, Yamada Masaru and Uyama Satoru built a 25-20 lead after five bouts. Kano beat Sergey Bida 8-3 in the last bout to give Japan a historic gold.

Japan ended European teams' monopoly in this event, where all the previous 24 gold medals were won by European fencers.

"I hope that now we've won this medal that epee will be popular more. We have been really strong in foil and now we have won a gold medal in epee," said Yamada.

The ROC team claimed its sixth medal in fencing at Tokyo 2020.

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"We knew it would be a very tough final, because Japan is a very strong team. We are still happy because this is an Olympics and we've got Olympic medals," Bida said.

Japan, who qualified from the preliminary rounds, advanced to the semifinals by stunning the top-ranked France 45-44.

France missed the opportunity to win the gold medal four times in a row at the Olympic Games.

South Korea edged China 45-42 in the bronze medal bout, winning its first Olympic medal in the men's epee team.

"I had a medal Rio in the individual, but this is the first time I have won a bronze with my team. It is very meaningful to me," said Park Sang-young.