TUNIS, Tunisia, Jan. 12-14, 2024 – Spain’s Lucia Martin-Portugues and USA’s Colin Heathcock won gold medals at the Tunis Women’s and Men’s Sabre Grand Prix. The event took place at the Palais des Sports – Cité Olympique Rades, including 149 women and 176 men participating in the competition.
In the final bout of women’s sabre, Martin-Portugues faced Türkiye’s Nisanur Erbil, winning with a 15-5 score. In the semifinal round, Erbil won against Korea’s Sebin Choi, 15-14, while Martin-Portugues defeated Italy’s Chiara Mormile, 15-6. Of note, Erbil beat Japan’s two-time world champion Misaki Emura in the quarterfinals, 15-14.
In the final bout of men’s sabre, Heathcock faced Tunisia’s Fares Ferjani, winning with a 15-9 score. In the semifinal round, Ferjani won against Georgia’s Sandro Bazadze, 15-14, while Heathcock defeated Hungary’s world and three-time Olympic champion Aron Szilagyi, 15-13. Of note, Korea’s world champion Sanguk Oh won against Hungary’s world champion Andras Szatmari in the round of 16, 15-14, and was then eliminated by Ferjani in the quarterfinals, 15-7.
Final rankings in women’s individual sabre Lucia Martin-Portugues (ESP, gold), Nisanur Erbil (TÜR, silver), Sebin Choi (KOR, bronze), Chiara Mormile (ITA, bronze), Misaki Emura (JPN), Despina Georgiadou (GRE), Cecilia Berder (FRA) and Eunhye Jeon (KOR).
Final rankings in men’s individual sabre included Colin Heathcock (USA, gold), Fares Ferjani (TUN, silver), Sandro Bazadze (GEO, bronze), Aron Szilagyi, (HUN, bronze), Matyas Szabo (GER), Sanguk Oh (KOR), Michele Gallo (ITA) and Bolade Apithy (FRA).
Complete and official results for this 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