Cadets shine on the opening day of the European Championships
The European Fencing Championships in Antalya began with an electrifying display of talent, as cadet fencers took to the pistes in men’s epee, women’s foil, and women’s sabre. Among the day’s highlights was a historic gold medal for the host nation, marking a significant milestone for Turkish fencing.
Men’s Epee
The men’s epee final saw an unexpected triumph for Hungary’s Donát Kiss. Coming into the competition, Kiss was not considered a favorite, with his best result this season being a fifth-place finish at the Cadet Circuit event in Novi Sad. However, he proved the predictions wrong, delivering a remarkable performance to claim the European title. Italy secured two spots on the podium, with Nicolo Sonnessa taking silver and Francesco Delfino earning a shared bronze alongside Ukraine’s Arsenii Karapysh.
Interview: Donát Kiss
"I had the confidence the whole day because I knew what I was capable of, and I was really sure I would be able to do something like that. During the Top 8, I fenced with the Romanian guy, and I had to come back—I had to really dig into my powers. My superpower today was calmness. I think this is a key thing in fencing, and I had this feeling throughout the day. I want to bring this out of me for the Wuxi World Championships."
Women’s Sabre
In women’s sabre, Italy’s Francesca Romana Lentini lived up to expectations, adding another gold medal to her name after winning the Cadet Circuit competition in Konin, Poland, earlier this season. Romania’s Amalia Covaliu, daughter of Olympic champion and current president of the Romanian Olympic Committee, Mihai Covaliu, put on an impressive display to take silver. Hungary’s Boglarka Komjathy and Turkey’s İrmak Şenoğlu completed the podium, securing bronze medals.
Interview: Francesca Romana Lentini
"I came here after the beautiful 3rd place last year in Naples at the European Championships. I was very anxious and wanted so much to step up on the podium again. The hardest match mentally was the one to enter the podium, and physically, the final. My mentality was my superpower today and helped me win. I am very anxious for the Wuxi World Championships, and I hope I can step up on the podium again."
Women’s Foil
The most emotional moment of the day came in the women’s foil event, where Alara Atmaca made history by winning Türkiye’s first-ever European Championship gold on home soil. Atmaca, ranked number two in the European cadet rankings, entered the competition as the favorite and lived up to expectations, delivering a commanding performance throughout the day. Poland’s Karolina Makowska secured silver, while Elizaveta Kopyltsova of Cyprus and Giorgia Ruta of Italy claimed bronze, rounding off a highly competitive event.
Interview with Alara Atmaca:
"Actually, I think I was well prepared both physically and mentally throughout the season. It wasn't a very difficult phase; I think I had a good tournament. I didn't have any problems throughout the tournament, but I had some difficulties in my pool matches. I think my calmness affected my performance positively. My next goal is the World Championships in Wuxi—I will train and participate in the competition. Apart from that, I am aiming for the 2028 Olympics."
Upcoming Competitions
The excitement continues tomorrow with more thrilling events on the schedule:
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Men’s Foil Individual
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Women’s Epee Individual
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Men’s Sabre Individual
Stay tuned for more action from the European Championships in Antalya.
Useful Links
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Full results: Click here
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Live streaming: Watch here
