BAMAKO, Mali, June 24, 2019—Egypt’s Alaaeldin Abouelkassem won the gold medal in men’s foil on the opening night of the 2019 African Fencing Championships in Bamako, Mali, and Tunisia’s Sarra Besbes took gold in women’s epee. It was the first of five days of individual and team competition, with 52 fencers from throughout Africa taking part in the day’s events and taking place at the Bamako Palais des Sports.
In the final round of individual men’s foil, Abouelkassem fenced his teammate, Mohamed Hamza, winning gold with a 15-11 final score. In the semifinal, Hamza beat Tunisian Mohamed Samandi, 15-13, and Abouelkassem defeated Tunisian Mohamed Ayoub Ferjani, 15-11.
For individual women’s epee, Besbes faced Egypt’s Shirwit Gaber, taking victory 15-7. Gaber overcame her teammate, Sara Nounou, in the semifinal, 15-9, while Besbes beat Senegal’s Ndeye Binta Diongue, 15-7.
Final ranking for individual men’s foil at the African Fencing Championships included Alaaeldin Abouelkassem (EGY, gold), Mohamed Hamza (EGY, silver), Mohamed Ayoub Ferjani (TUN, bronze), Mohamed Samandi (TUN, bronze), Mohamed Essam (EGY), Mohamed Hassan (EGY), Salim Heroui (ALG) and Jeremy Fafa Keryhuel (CIV).
For individual women’s epee, final rankings included Sarra Besbes (TUN, gold), Shirwit Gaber (EGY, silver), Ndeye Binta Diongue (SEN, bronze), Sara Nounou (EGY, bronze), Gbahi Gwladys Sakoa (CIV), Nardin Ehab (EGY), Aphiwe Tuku (RSA) and Juliana Barrett (RSA).
Complete information may be found on the FIE website.