Russian Gudkova defends her World Crown as China’s Sun takes the men’s title

The Cadet and Junior World Championships 2013 continued in Poreč, Croatia, with the Junior Men’s and Women’s individual epee events.

Junior Men’s Epee

There were three British fencers in this event joining a field of 128.  Curran Jones (V4D2), Hudson (V2D3) and Ridley (V3D3) all made the knockout stages of the tournament.  Lampetz (BEL) defeated Ridley 15-11 in the round of 128 but Curran Jones went through 15-10 against Alkhudhair (KUW) and Hudson progressed 15-12 versus Saban (CRO).  Ma (KOR), the eventual bronze medallist, knocked out Curran Jones, 15-13, in the round of 64 whilst Hudson defeated Hartmann (AUT), 15-9.  In the round of 32 Hudson faced the World number 1, Fichera (ITA) and led the fight in the early stages but eventually lost 15-13.

The first semi-final saw Sun (CHN), a relatively unknown fencer, taking on World number 3, Santarelli (ITA) and with his unorthodox style quickly went 8-4 up.  The Italian changed his tactics and closed to 8-6 down at the first break.  Sun was still two hits up by the next break and went on to win 15-12.  In the second semi-final Periera (ESP) controlled the fight from the off with a better control of the distance against Ma (KOR).  By the first break he was 9-6 up and maintained the 3-hit lead at the second break 13-10.  In the final period he pulled away and won 15-10.  The final was a close affair with Sun (CHN) and Pereira (ESP) tied up at 2-2 at the first break.  Sun stuck to his tactic of staying on the back line, forcing the Spaniard to attack and was 8-6 up by the second break.  In the third period Pereira changed his tactics and drew level at 12-12 before both fencers elected to go into a priority minute with 35 seconds still left on the clock.  The Spaniard had priority but Sun (CHN) took the title in super-fast time 13-12.

GB Individual Placings:  Hudson 30^th, Curran Jones 48^th & Ridley 88^th.

Full Individual Results Here

Junior Women’s Epee

No Brits took part in this event.  In the first semi-final Lehis (EST), the World number 1 seed pulled out a 4-1 lead at the first break but Mallo (FRA) produced a great comeback to take the fight into the second break at 10-10.  Lehis seemed impatient in the final period and Mallo came out a 15-11 winner.  In the second semi-final Gudkova (RUS), the reigning World Champion and Di Tella (ARG) went into the first break at 3-3.  A composed approach saw Gudkova lead 6-5 at the second break but when the score went to 6-6 in the final period both fencers elected to go for a non-combativity minute.  There, Gudkova pulled two hits ahead and with Di Tella chasing Gudkova came out a 12-10 winner.  In the final Gudkova (RUS) pulled ahead in the first period with a patient approach and then extended her lead to 11-5 by the second break.  She won back-to-back titles in fine style 15-9.

Full Individual Results Here

The Junior individual competition finishes tomorrow with the Men’s Foil and Women’s Sabre events.