RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 12-20, 2024 – The 2024 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships have completed 18 events over nine days from April 12-20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, including men’s and women’s individual and team competitions in epee, foil and sabre. The Championships, held at the King Saud University Sports Arena, represented the first time Saudi Arabia has hosted a Fencing World Championships.
“Please join me and our global fencing family in celebrating a very successful nine days of junior and cadet events, resulting in 18 new individual and team world champions. This year, we had 1439 fencers participating from 103 countries.
“We appreciate the hospitality and excellent organisation provided to us by our hosts, the Saudi Fencing Federation, at the beautiful King Saud University Sports Arena”, said FIE Vice President Mr. Abdelmoneim Elhamy El Husseiny, who officially closed the Championships on behalf of FIE Interim President Emmanuel Katsiadakis. “We congratulate the Saudi Federation both for 2024 being its 50th anniversary as an FIE member federation, and for this first time in its history to host a World Championships. I extend sincere acknowledgement to the organising committee.”
“I would like to thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the ambitious vision of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister”, said Mr. Ahmed Alsabban, President of the Saudi Fencing Federation. “We are grateful for their support not only of fencing, but all sports in Saudi Arabia. I would also like to thank His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, as well as His Highness Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Alsaud, Vice-President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, for their tremendous support for this competition”.
Alsabban thanked everyone at the Championships for their participation, spirit of Fair Play, support and work to achieve a resounding success. He formally passed the FIE flag to Mr. Li Haihong, Deputy Director of the Wuxi Sports Bureau, for next year’s Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Wuxi, China.
Special Guests at the Championships
Numerous VIPs and dignitaries came to the Championships to watch finals and/or to present medals:
Medals presenters:
Saudi dignitaries included His Excellency Abdulelah Aldalak, Assistant Minister of Sports; HH Prince Fahad Bin Jalawi Al Saud, Vice President of Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee; HRH Prince Homoud Bin Saud Al Saud, Honorary Chairman of the Saudi Fencing Federation; HRH Princess Dilayl Bint Nahar Al Saud, CEO of the 2034 Asian Games Organizing Committee; HRH Princess Reham bint Saif Al-Islam Alsaud, Executive Director of Protocol & Events for Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee; and HRH Princess Dr. Ahad Bint Alhassan Al Saud, Chief Operating Officer, Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.
Distinguished dignitaries included H.E. Professor-Doctor Emrullah Işler, Türkiye Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; and Ms. Claudia Botha, Chief Operation Officer of Motus One.
Saudi Fencing Federation members included Mr. Ahmed Alsabban, President; Mr. Mohammed Bin Ahmed Buali, Vice President; Dr. Wasem Bin Eissa Al Hassan, Board Member; Ms. Lama Alfozan, Board member; Mr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Alsunaid, CEO; and Mr. Adel Bin Majed Alrumaihi, Head of Saudi National Team.
FIE Executive Committee members included Ms. Ferial Salhi, Secretary-Treasurer of the FIE; Mr. Abdelmoneim Elhamy El Husseiny, Vice-President; Ms. Erika Aze, Vice-President; Mr. Donald Anthony; Mr. Paolo Azzi; Ms. Velichka Hristeva; Mr. Novak Perovic; Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Alqasimi, President of the Asian/Arab Fencing Confederation; Ms. Helen Smith, President of the Oceania Fencing Confederation.
Federation members included Mr. Murat Atali, President of the Türkiye Fencing Federation; Mr. Mohamed Soufiane Chaouachi, President of the Tunisian Fencing Federation; Mr. Dawoud Miwali, President of the Palestinian Fencing Federation; Mr. Abdulkarim Al-Shamlan, President of the Kuwait Fencing Federation; Mr. Muhammad Tariq Al-Husseini, Vice President of the Egyptian Fencing Federation; Dr. Henriette Brigitt Tamas, Secretary-General of the Hungarian Fencing Federation; Mr. Fahad Abdulla Al-Mulla, Assistant Secretary-General of the Qatar Fencing Federation; and Ms. Gulnora Saidova, Executive Secretary of the Asian Fencing Confederation.
Diplomatic dignitaries in attendance included Choi Byung-Hyuk, Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Neil Crompton, UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Alireza Enayati, Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Jean-Philippe Linteau, Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen, and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman; Nuno Mathias, Ambassador of Portugal to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, covering also Bahrain, Oman & Yemen; H.E. Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Liselotte Plesner, Ambassador of Denmark to Saudi Arabia; Mr. Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Robert Rostek, Polish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Balázs Selmeci, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Embassy of Hungary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain and Republic of Yemen. Anu-Eerika Viljanen, Finnish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Chen Weiqing, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; and Yasmine Chatila Zwahlen, Swiss Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Championships Details
Of the three weapons used in fencing, including junior and cadet men’s and women’s individual and team events at the Championships, 38% competed in epee, 32% in foil and 30% in sabre. Each weapon had three days of competition in a row, with each three-day cycle including a first day of men’s and women’s individual junior events, followed by a day of individual cadet and ending with a day of junior team competition. Overall, 56% of this year’s fencers were male and 44% were female.
FIE Development Programmes
Several FIE development programmes featured interactive stands and events at the World Championships to support the global fencing family and build fencing at an individual and world level:
Donate Your Fencing Gear! was on site in Riyadh and received donations of fencing gear from coaches and fencers, as well as a generous gift of equipment from the Saudi Fencing Federation. The programme receives good-quality fencing gear distributed to recipient countries with limited resources, which then gives athletes opportunities to train and build their careers.
“We are proud to support countries from around the world with equipment received from donors”, said FIE Executive Committee member Novak Perovic. “This year, we have 11 countries receiving equipment and the Saudi Federation is our major donor.”
“Through these Championships we want to show the world how countries can come together as one nation”, said Abdullah Alsunaid, CEO of the Saudi Fencing Federation. “The Saudi Federation tries to use the opportunity we have with this event to support other countries.”
As part of a global commitment to sustainability, the FIE Fencing for the Planet programme, annually recognized on April 13, the Saudi Federation supported efforts undertaken to conserve resources at the Championships and in conformance with the King Saud University Sustainability programme. Fencing for the Planet is an ongoing programme meant to inspire and encourage fencers, coaches, supporters, clubs and federations to become involved in environmental projects and practices.
As part of this, a symbolic tree was planted on the University grounds with FIE Executive Committee Vice President Erika Aze (LAT) and member Rusni Abu Hassan, along with Saudi Fencing Federation CEO Abdullah Alsunaid and King Saud University Director of Sustainability and Environmental Development Department and Engineer Abdullah Mohammed Al-Qahtani. “We are proud to have a sustainability programme at King Saud University ... to help save the planet and the people”, said Al-Qahtani.
“The International Fencing Federation is pleased to be here and in support of the King Saud sustainability programme and we appreciate the Saudi Federation’s commitment to it, for here and for the world”, said Aze.
“Sustainability is important as it helps to reduce global warming and its effects”, said athlete Jae Jia En Lim (SIN). “I feel that sustainability will help everyone on the Earth, allow us to breathe better air, and to live healthily.”
“We have to do something different for our planet for the sake of the environment, especially with plastic and carbon”, said athlete Ziyad Almutairi (KSA). “As young fencers, Fencing for the Planet is important because we need to save the future, and the future is for our families.”
Athlete Julie Xiao (CAN) said, “We’re on this planet together and should be mindful of the things we’re using that are our planet’s resources, and we have to conserve and use them for the future.”
“It’s very important to support this green project with the sport of fencing and all over the world”, said Greek Coach Ioannis Notaras. “Protecting the future is through the ‘green way’, and with fencing we are trying our best to support that.”
“Sustainability is a very important term today”, said Paolo Azzi, Italian Federation President and FIE Executive Committee member. “In Italy this year, during the Junior World Cup competition in Udine, it was for the first time we’ve held a competition with a certification of sustainability issued by the authorities. I think it’s a step in the right way.”
FIE Executive Committee member Donald Anthony (USA) said, “We know that weather impacts every place in the world, so let’s take care of our planet, and Fencing for the Planet is something we should all support.”
As part of the FIE anti-doping Clean Sport programme, an educational stand provided information about Clean Sport principles and fencing for athletes and coaches. Interactive games were provided along with printed and online resources and gifts to encourage participants to learn about this important area of sports. The stand was staffed by members of the Saudi National Anti-Doping Organisation, under the leadership of Mr. Ali Alateeq, NADO Public Relations and Awareness Director. Prior to the Championships, the NADO also gave a lecture to the Saudi national team on this topic.
The FIE Fair-Play Council was on-site in Riyadh for the duration of the competition, educating and engaging athletes in sports Fair Play concepts. Fencers from a diversity of nations took part in informational games and activities to learn more about Fair Play and understand the importance of unity and the spirit of sport. “The International Fair Play Committee is proud for its long-term cooperation with the FIE”, said Fair Play Executive Director Gabor Deregan. “The FIE is one of our exemplary partners with its Fair Play awards and stands at youth events. The FIE Championships in Riyadh are a perfect competition from the Fair Play viewpoint, and our staff of Saudi LOC volunteers have been very reliable and enthusiastic. We are represented here by Dr. Eyyad Maghayreh, and we are grateful to the FIE for this excellent promotion and looking forward to future cooperation.”
FIE Safeguarding officers were on-site for the duration of the Championships, available to any athletes, coaches, officials or staff. A team of volunteers supporting the education activities staffed a promotional stand alongside two IOC-certified Safeguarding officers, Georgina Usher and Hossam Ellaboudy. “The FIE first started its SafeSport education and awareness programme for cadet and junior fencers in 2018”, said Usher. “Five years later we continue to deliver on our commitment to promote SafeSport and train athletes on how to spot harassment and abuse and how to report it.”
The FIE hosted its annual Junior and Cadet Training Camp, with 19 fencers from 19 countries having a unique opportunity to participate in training with elite-level coaches in three weapons.
Each weapon had six days of training in the same facility as the Championships, the King Saud University Sports Arena. Training began six days before individual competition for each specific weapon began, with two three-hour training sessions per day. The fencers then competed in the Championships.
Three athletes from the camp achieved notable results in the Riyadh Championships:
- Evann Jean Abba Girault (NIG) – 21st place in junior men’s individual sabre
- Adrian Figueredo Suliveres (PUR) – 25th place in junior men’s individual sabre
- Anna Kalliopi Kourousi (GRE) – 10th place in cadet women’s individual sabre
Coaches included Rita Abou Jaoude (LBN, foil), Alexandros Emmanouilidis (CYP, epee), and Andrew Fischl (USA, sabre). They covered theoretical and tactical topics, competition strategy and simulation, footwork and other topics in individual and group settings.
The athletes benefited from a cultural exchange and being able to make new friends and relationships, and other fencers at the Championships were invited to take part in open matches and practices.
Athletes were from the following countries:
Africa: Angola, Benin, Niger, Senegal, Tunisia
Asia-Oceania: Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Pan America: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Puerto Rico
Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia
Financial aid for the camp was provided by a special IOC programme for countries fielding fewer than 50 Olympic participants in the prior Olympic Games. Aid was provided by the IOC to help 12 participants in joining the camp. For all the others, the FIE paid for flights and travel, visas, competition fees, room and board, and pocket expenses.
USA led the overall and gold medal count with a total of 11 (4 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze), Italy with 13 (2 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze), followed by France with 6 (2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze). The table below shows the medal count for the Championships:
Day 1
Junior Women’s Individual Foil
1. Jessica Zi Jia Guo (CAN, gold)
2. Irene Bertini (ITA, silver)
3. Rino Nagase (JPN, bronze)
3. Vittoria Pinna (ITA, bronze)
5. Andreea Dinca (ROU)
6. Yunjia Zhang (CAN)
7. Enqi Jiao (CHN)
8. Ariadna Tucker (ESP)
Junior Men’s Individual Foil
1. Ryosuke Fukuda (JPN, gold)
2. David Sosnov (GBR, silver)
3. Eliot Chagnon (FRA, bronze)
3. Samarth Kumbla (USA, bronze)
5. Abdelrahman Tolba (EGY)
6. Anas Anane (FRA)
7. Jaimie Cook (GBR)
8. Pavel Puzankov (AIN)
Day 2
Cadet Women’s Individual Foil
1. Jaelyn Liu (USA, gold)
2. Polina Volobueva (AIN, silver)
3. Natasza Kus (POL, bronze)
3. Yunjia Zhang (CAN, bronze)
5. Adeline Senic (MDA)
6. Sara Amr Hossny (EGY)
7. Ludovica Franzoni (ITA)
8. Yuqiao Song (CAN)
Cadet Men’s Individual Foil
1. Weiqiao Lyu (CHN, gold)
2. Don Jeidus Deseranno (USA, silver)
3. Jia Bao Xu (CAN, bronze)
3. Chun Lok Luk (HKG, bronze)
5. Luao Yang (USA)
6. Thibaut Gaven Mary (FRA)
7. David Kelly (GBR)
8. Guillaume Watson (FRA)
Day 3
Junior Women’s Team Foil
1. Italy (gold)
2. Japan (silver)
3. Korea (bronze)
4. France
5. Great Britain
6. USA
7. Poland
8. Hong Kong, China
Junior Men’s Team Foil
1. USA (gold)
2. Italy (silver)
3. Japan (bronze)
4. France
5. Hungary
6. Hong Kong, China
7. Great Britain
8. Poland
Day 4
Junior Women’s Individual Epee
1. Oceane Francillonne (FRA, gold)
2. Julia Yin (CAN, silver)
3. Anita Corradino (ITA, bronze)
3. Leehi Machulsky (USA, bronze)
5. Emily Conrad (UKR)
6. Michaela Joyce (USA)
7. Dilnaz Murzataeva (UZB)
8. Ekaterina Kolbeneva (AIN)
Junior Men’s Individual Epee
1. Alban Aebersold (SUI, gold)
2. Alec Brooke (GBR, silver)
3. Nicolo’ Del Contrasto (ITA, bronze)
3. Samuel Imrek (USA, bronze)
5. Jungbeom Kim (KOR)
6. Erik Tobias (EST)
7. Matteo Galassi (ITA)
8. Kohaku Yasui (JPN)
Day 5
Cadet Women’s Individual Epee
1. Anna Maksymenko (UKR, gold)
2. Sharika Gajjala (USA, silver)
3. Emily Conrad (UKR, bronze)
3. Huishuang Jiang (CHN, bronze)
5. Anna Szilard (HUN)
6. Mariachiara Testa (ITA)
7. Laura Misiak (POL)
8. Arina Zakharova (AIN)
Cadet Men’s Individual Epee
1. Doruk Erolcevik (TÜR, gold)
2. Eslam Osama (EGY, silver)
3. Alexander Bezrodnov (USA, bronze)
3. Federico Varone (ITA, bronze)
5. Ole Petersen (GER)
6. Kerkko Jarvi (FIN)
7. Elisei Pisarev (AIN)
8. Noam Duchene (FRA)
Day 6
Junior Women’s Team Epee
1. USA (gold)
2. Italy (silver)
3. France (bronze)
4. Canada
5. China
6. Hungary
7. Ukraine
8. Hong Kong, China
Junior Men’s Team Epee
1. Italy (gold)
2. France (silver)
3. Switzerland (bronze)
4. Hungary
5. USA
6. Egypt
7. Korea
8. Spain
Day 7
Junior Women’s Individual Sabre
1. Qimiao Pan (CHN, gold)
2. Aleksandra Mikhailova (AIN, silver)
3. Luisa Fernanda Herrera Lara (UZB, bronze)
3. Alejandra Manga (FRA, bronze)
5. Magda Skarbonkiewicz (USA)
6. Alexandra Kuvaeva (GEO)
7. Anna Spiesz (HUN)
8. Amalia Stan (ROU)
Junior Men’s Individual Sabre
1. Vlad Covaliu (ROU, gold)
2. Pavel Graudyn (AIN, silver)
3. Santiago Madrigal (ESP, bronze)
3. William Morrill (USA, bronze)
5. In Park (KOR)
6. Remi Garrigue (FRA)
7. Ilia Kostiukov (AIN)
8. Cody Walter Ji (USA)
Day 8
Cadet Women’s Individual Sabre
1. Dorottya Csonka (HUN, gold)
2. Francesca Romana Lentini (ITA, silver)
3. Vittoria Mocci (ITA, bronze)
3. Nargiza Jaksybaeva (UZB, bronze)
5. Qimiao Pan (CHN)
6. Sofia Novikova (AIN)
7. Maria Tretyakova (AIN)
8. Julie Xiao (CAN)
Cadet Men’s Individual Sabre
1. Sardor Abdukarimbekov (UZB, gold)
2. Alpamis Urakboev (UZB, silver)
3. Motoki Kawahara (JPN, bronze)
3. Doyeon Kim (KOR, bronze)
5. Julian Maklakov (GER)
6. Massimo Sibillo (ITA)
7. Enno Chiang (NED)
8. Yigit Ayaz (TÜR)
Day 9
Junior Women’s Team Sabre
1. France (gold)
2. Italy (silver)
3. Hungary (bronze)
4. Uzbekistan
5. USA
6. Kazakhstan
7. Poland
8. Mexico
Junior Men’s Team Sabre
1. USA (gold)
2. Romania (silver)
3. Italy (bronze)
4. Egypt
5. Korea
6. Spain
7. Uzbekistan
8. Hungary
The 2024 Riyadh Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships were available to audiences worldwide and livestreamed on the FIE YouTube FIE Fencing Channel. Complete and official results for the event may be found on the FIE website.