JUNIOR WOMEN’S FOIL REPORT
Great Britain’s Carolina Stutchbury stormed to the European Junior Women’s Foil Championship title today in Novi Sad as Serbian hosts began the latest edition of the event.
Stutchbury started the day without dropping a fight in first round and her early performance saw her ranked sixth for the knockout stages. She earned a bye through the incomplete round of 128 and went on to beat Chiara Groess (AUT) 15- 4, Teodora Sofran (ROU) 15-8, Antonina Lachman (POL) 15-11 and Esther Bonny (FRA) 15-7 to make the medal matches. She faced Lior Druck (ISR) in the semi-finals who was ranked second after the poules. Stutchbury continued her fine form to win 15-7 allowing her to contest her first ever European title.
The other half of the draw saw Irene Bertini (ITA) face Karina Vasile (ROU) in the semi-final after both had battled their way through some tough fights. Bertini won 15-10 to guarantee at least the silver medal.
The final began with a frantic first period as the fencers shared sixteen hits finding themselves 8-8 at the break. The fight became more tactical in the second period but Bertini continued to press. The British fencer relied on her reactions and defence to lead 11-9 at the second break and went on to win the fight 15-12 to claim the first title of the Championships.
