French and American fencers prominent in junior finals

In the first of the junior events, the men’s foil final saw two Italians battle it out for the world title. Francesco Ingargiola took on Damiano Rosatelli and it was Rosatelli who edged into an early but slender lead in the first period. The match remained tight throughout but at 13-13 Rosatelli scored two unanswered hits to win the gold medal. China’s Mengkai Huang and Korea’s Hyeonjun Yang too home the bronze medals.

The junior women’s foil final saw last year’s silver medalist, Canada’s Eleanor Harvey reach the final to face USA’s Sara Taffel. A superb performance from Taffel saw her raise the world championships crown with a 15-12 victory. Germany’s Leonie Ebert and China’s Yiting Fu secured the bronze medals.

In the men’s sabre, the USA’s Eli Dershwitz pulled out into an 8-3 lead in the first period of the gold medal match with Italy’s Francesco Bonsanto. The American’s tactical dominance continued in the second period and he took the individual world title on the back of a fine 15-8 victory. Egypt’s Mohamed Amer and Belgium’s Jules De Visscher secured the bronze medals as losing semi-finalists.

The junior women’s sabre was an all-France affair between Manon Brunet and Caroline Queroli. In a close contest, the two fencers traded the lead so it was no surprise to see the title decided on a single hit at 14-14; Queroli taking the honours and becoming the world champion with a stunning last hit. Russia’s Anna Bashta and the USA’s Sage Palmedo completed the podium in the bronze medal positions.

In the men’s epee final, there was further French success and something of a surprise result as French world number 40 Hippolyte Bouillot won the gold medal match in extra time against Hungary’s world number two, Zsombor Banyai, 15-13. Spain’s Yulen Pereira and China’s Yangdong Xue were the bronze medalists.

Coraline Vitalis made it a French double in the epee by becoming the world champion in stunning style beating Germany’s Nadine Stahlberg 15-6 in the first period of the final. Having fenced superbly all day the German was given no time to settle into the fight as Vitalis stormed to victory. China’s Xue Qin and Ukraine’s Yulya Svystil took home the bronze medals.