PADUA, Italy, May 20-22, 2022—Hungary’s three-time Olympic champion Aron Szilagyi and Azerbaijan’s Anna Bashta won the men’s and women’s gold medals at the 63rd Padua “Trofeo Luxardo” Sabre Grand Prix. The event took place at the City’s Palaindoor di Padova sports complex with 195 men and 160 women competing.
In men’s individual sabre, Szilagyi faced Korea’s Bongil Gu in the final round, winning the gold by a single point, 15-14. In the semifinal round, Gu won against France’s Bolade Apithy, 15-14, while Szilagyi defeated France’s Eliott Bibi, 15-9. Of note, Bibi beat Hungarian world champion Andras Szatmari in the quarterfinals, 15-11, and Korea’s Junho Kim won against teammate and world champion Sanguk Oh in the round of 16, 15-13, before being defeated by Apithy in the quarterfinals, 15-13.
In women’s individual sabre, Bashta faced Japan’s Risa Takashima in the final round, winning the gold with a 15-11 score. In the semifinal round, Takashima won against France’s Caroline Queroli, 15-12, and Bashta beat Japan’s Misaki Emura, 15-9. Of note, Korea’s Hayoung Jeon defeated Ukraine’s four-time world champion, Olga Kharlan, in the round of 16, 15-14, before being beaten by Takashima in the quarterfinals, 15-8.
Final rankings in men’s sabre included Aron Szilagyi (HUN, gold), Bongil Gu (KOR, silver), Bolade Apithy (FRA, bronze), Eliott Bibi (FRA, bronze), Andras Szatmari (HUN), Junho Kim (KOR), Iulian Teodosiu (ROU) and Maxime Pianfetti (FRA).
Final rankings in women’s sabre included Anna Bashta (AZE, gold), Risa Takashima (JPN, silver), Misaki Emura (JPN, bronze), Caroline Queroli (FRA, bronze), Rossella Gregorio (ITA), Sooyeon Choi (KOR), Hayoung Jeon (KOR) and Araceli Navarro (ESP).
Complete and official results for the event may be found here on the FIE web site. For more exciting world fencing news and features, check out the YouTube FIE Fencing Channel.