DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 29-31, 2024 – Hong Kong, China’s Man Wai Vivian Kong and Israel’s Yuval Shalom Freilich won gold medals at the Qatar Women’s and Men’s Epee Grand Prix. The event took place at the Lusail Sport Arena, including 210 women and 275 men participating in the competition.
In the final bout of women’s individual epee, Kong faced Italy’s Giulia Rizzi, winning with a 14-13 score. In the semifinal round, Rizzi won against Ukraine’s Darja Varfolomyeyeva, 15-12, while Kong defeated USA’s Hadley Husisian, 15-14. Of note, in the quarterfinals Varfolomyeyeva beat France’s world champion Marie-Florence Candassamy, 11-10, and in the round of 16 Husisian beat Korea’s world champion Sera Song, 15-12.
In the final bout of men’s individual epee, Freilich faced Italy’s Federico Vismara, winning with a 15-9 score. In the semifinal round, Vismara won against USA’s Samuel Imrek, 15-12, while Freilich defeated USA’s Yeisser Ramirez, 14-13. Of note, in the quarterfinals, Freilich beat France’s world champion Yannick Borel, 15-9, Ramirez won against Hungary’s world champion Gergely Siklosi, 15-11, and Vismara defeated Hungary’s world champion Mate Tamas Koch, 15-14. In the round of 16, Freilich won against France’s world and Olympic champion Romain Cannone, 15-10.
Final rankings in women’s individual epee included Man Wai Vivian Kong (HKG, gold), Giulia Rizzi (ITA, silver), Hadley Husisian (USA, bronze), Darja Varfolomyeyeva (UKR, bronze), Marie-Florence Candassamy (FRA), Federica Isola (ITA), Katrina Lehis (EST) and Hyein Lee (KOR).
Final rankings in men’s individual epee included Yuval Shalom Freilich (ISR, gold), Federico Vismara (ITA, silver), Samuel Imrek (USA, bronze), Yeisser Ramirez (USA, bronze), Mate Tamas Koch (HUN), Gergely Siklosi (HUN), Alexandre Bardenet (FRA) and Yannick Borel (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.