TBILISI, Georgia, July 23, 2025 – Ukraine’s Vlada Kharkova won the gold medal in women’s individual epee at the 2025 Tbilisi Fencing World Championships and Hong Kong, China’s Chun Yin Ryan Choi won the gold medal in men’s individual foil. It was the first day of finals events, with a total of 12 gold-medal events in women’s and men’s individual and team competition in epee, foil and sabre scheduled between July 22 and 30. The Championships are taking place in Tbilisi’s Olympic Palace, and today’s events included 180 women and 160 men competing in epee and foil.
Kharkova faced Estonia’s Katrina Lehis in the final bout of women’s individual epee, winning with a 15-14 score. In the semifinal round, Lehis won against teammate Irina Embrich, 15-10, while Kharkova defeated Korea’s world champion Sera Song, 15-14. Of note, in the quarterfinals, Lehis beat Italy’s two-time world champion Rossella Fiamingo, 15-11; in the round of 32, Lehis won against teammate and world champion Julia Beljajeva, 13-10; and in the round of 64, Germany’s Laura Katalin Wetzker defeated France’s world champion Marie-Florence Candassamy, 13-12.
“I’m very happy, and I’ve been dreaming about this all my life”, said Kharkova. “It was hard for me because I didn’t have any sleep and I was exhausted. But for all the matches it was hard for me physically, but emotionally I was very stable even in critical situations. I had this feeling that I had prepared myself mentally. I just wanted to do my best, and of course it was hard, but I was just enjoying the process. I’m very happy to represent Ukraine and this is for all my people.”
Choi faced Kirill Bordodachev (_AIN) in the final bout of men’s individual foil, winning with a 15-9 score. In the semifinal round, Borodachev won against France’s Maxime Pauty, 15-12, while Choi defeated Hungary’s Gergo Szemes, 15-11. Of note, in the table of 16, Borodachev beat Italy’s world champion Alessio Foconi, 15-14; in the round of 32, Japan’s Yudai Nagano won against Italy’s world champion Tommaso Marini, 15-14; and in the round of 64 Belgium’s Stef Van Campenhout defeated Hong Kong, China’s two-time Olympic champion Ka Long Cheung, 15-12.
“My goal today was to not lose the first match, and I won. I can’t believe it”, said Choi. “I didn’t put pressure on myself today. I thought it would be good practice so that I can be ready and win next year at home. I thought my most difficult match would be against Guillaume Bianchi, but in the end it was against Filippo Macchi. We ended with 14-14, I massaged my face and told myself I could do it, and I did.”
Final rankings in women’s individual epee included Vlada Kharkova (UKR, gold), Katrina Lehis (EST, silver), Irina Embrich (EST, bronze), Sera Song (KOR, bronze), Alberta Santuccio (ITA), Eloise Vanryssel (FRA), Rossella Fiamingo (ITA) and Ruien Xiao (CAN).
Final rankings in men’s individual foil included Chun Yin Ryan Choi (HKG, gold), Kirill Borodachev (_AIN, silver), Maxime Pauty (FRA, bronze), Gergo Szemes (HUN, bronze), Filippo Macchi (ITA), Mohamed Hamza (EGY), Kazuki Iimura (JPN) and Daniel Dosa (HUN).
Complete and official results may be found here on the FIE web site. To watch livestream fencing, check out FencingTV.com! Find official photos from this and other events on the FIE Facebook page.
Official website of the 2025 Tbilisi Fencing World Championships: https://fencing.ge/
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