Pan Qimiao (Photo FIE)
China’s Pan Qimiao topped a field of 94 fencers, defeating Yang Shuhan of Hong Kong, China 15–9 to capture gold in the cadet women’s sabre competition at Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
With the victory, Qimiao completed the rare double, having also won the junior women’s sabre title the previous day.
The main concern for Qimiao was whether she would feel the effects of a gruelling junior competition, particularly heavy legs. Instead, it was early nerves that nearly led to her elimination. In the round of 32, she found herself tied 10–10 with Irmak Senoglu of Türkiye before pulling away for a hard-fought 15–12 win.
Qimiao later admitted to feeling nervous, especially given her close 15–10 bout with Senoglu in the junior event the day before. Once she cleared that hurdle, however, she settled in and cruised to the top of the podium.
In the semifinals, Qimiao defeated Anastasiia Isakova of Russia 15–9, while Yang advanced with a 15–12 victory over Australia’s Zara Djamirze in a tightly contested match.
Both Isakova and Djamirze earned bronze medals. Djamirze’s result was particularly significant, as she became the first Australian female fencer to win a medal at the junior or cadet World Championships.
American Aiden Tse emerged victorious from a field of 111 fencers, defeating Giorgi Urushadze of Georgia 15–10 to claim gold in the Cadet men’s sabre competition.
The 15-year-old left-hander faced an early test in the round of 32, where he overcame seventh-seeded Brazilian Marcus Pinto by a score of 15–9.
In the final, Aiden used exceptional footwork to surge to an 8–3 lead over Urushadze at the break. Urushadze responded by neutralising that movement, finding success with attacks in the middle of the piste to close the gap.
Aiden later explained that he regained control of the bout by making a subtle adjustment to the preparation of his attack, allowing him to reassert momentum and secure the victory.
In the semifinals, Aiden defeated Sweden’s Kenneth Kong 15–12, while Urushadze delivered a dominant 15–4 win over Romania’s Matei Radu.
Both Radu and Kenneth earned bronze medals.
Kenneth’s podium finish marked Sweden’s first medal at the Cadet or Junior World Championships since Åsa Linde won bronze in Cadet women’s épée in 2014. Urushadze’s silver medal is Georgia’s first in the category since 2011, when Mikheil Mardaleishvili took bronze in Cadet men’s sabre.
Final Rankings – Cadet Men’s Sabre
Aiden Tse (USA, gold), Giorgi Urushadze (GEO, silver), Matei Radu (ROM, bronze), Kenneth Kong (SWE, bronze), Pietro Hirsch Butte (ITA), Deven Mattoo (PUR), Andrew Chang Wang (USA), William Buxton (GBR).
Final Rankings – Cadet Women’s Sabre
Pan Qimiao (CHN, gold), Yang Shuhan (HKG, silver), Anastasiia Isakova (RUS, bronze), Zara Djamirze (AUS, bronze), Jeon Yuju (KOR), Karolina Mejlun (POL), Li Wanxuan (CHI), Anna Suvorova (UKR).
