Golds for Germany, Hungary at under 23s wheelchair fencing Worlds

Hungary’s Anna Nadasdy and Germany’s Julius Haupt have ended Thursday (20 October) as International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing under 23 foil world champions in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Matches can be watched back at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing website, alongside results. Pictures are available for editorial use here.

Nadasdy won her second gold in as many days in the women’s foil.

The 17-year-old was once again in great form, finishing top of her pool unbeaten and advancing into the final against Turkey’s 2019 silver medallist Elke Lale Van Achterberg who did the same.

The Turkish fencer took an early lead but Nadasdy fought back to claim the advantage at 6-5 and built from there.

The Hungarian then landed nine more hits without reply to take victory and leave her opponents wondering if she can be stopped ahead of Friday’s third and final event: the epee.

“I am world champion, it’s crazy!”, Nadasdy said before going on to describe how she gathered herself to take the win:

“I was angry [after Van Achterberg took the lead]. [So I thought] It’s ok, stop and calm.”

France’s Clemence Delavoipiere collected her second medal of the competition with bronze, as did Brazil’s Ana Elisa Paz.

It was an all-German face-off in the final of the men’s foil as Julius Haupt took on Felix Schrader.

Haupt arrived in the final having won all his previous matches and with slightly more age and experience on his side. The 22-year-old is competing at his fourth youth World Championships and as the under 17 foil world champion from 2018.

Schrader meanwhile is aged 19. Sao Paulo 2022 is his first under 23 Worlds having taken the under 17 title in 2019.

The final scoreline of 15-4 to Haupt did not do the match justice as the pair traded blows.

But it was Haupt who emerged the victor, watched by his sister and wearing a t-shirt with a photo of the pair together throughout all his matches to give him positivity.

Haupt said: “It was really hard to take control. Yesterday I lost in the final so it was a lot of mental thoughts that I must calm down, relax. It was hard fights.

“It’s really great. I have spent a lot of time working on it, to be the best, so now it’s like I’m the world champion so it’s really amazing.”

Schrader added silver to his bronze from the sabre on Wednesday. Brazil’s Kevin Damasceno  grabbed another podium finish for Brazil with bronze. France’s Quentin Fernandez-Anssoux stood alongside him.

The 2022 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Under 23s World Championships continue on Friday (21 October) with the men’s and women’s epee. The A and B categories in both genders are being combined at the competition.

The 2022 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships then get underway from 22-25 October, also in Sao Paulo.