Nozomi Nakano became the first Japanese ever to reach the finals in the women's individual epee event after overcoming Yeung Chui Ling of Hong Kong in the semifinals on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Nakano edged Yeung 6-5 at Guangda Gymnasium to set up a final meeting with China's Luo Xiaojuan later Saturday.
No Japanese woman has ever made a podium finish at the Asian Games since the individual epee debuted at the 1990 Beijing Games. Nakano had secured a medal after defeating Taiwan's Cheng Ya-wen in the quarterfinals.