DAY TWO – IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Stadskanaal World Cup

12/05/2017

Day two of the Stadskanaal U17 and U23 competitions

The second day of competition at Stadskanaal saw the completion of the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing U17 and U23 events.

The U17 mixed Epee demonstrated the skills and tactics of the young fencers from France, Turkey, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Italy. In the preliminary rounds Elke Van Achterberg (TUR) and Enzo Giorgi (FRA) dominated the field to face off each other in the final. Elke Van Achterberg achieving her first gold of the competition.

The U23 Womens Epee competition had strong entries from France and Italy and saw the return of newcomer Riikkaa Kahkonen (FIN) into the U23 Event. The semi final rounds were battled out between the two French fencers; Marine Ecorchon and Anne Sophie Maximin on one piste and Nino Tibiashvili (GEO) and Elke Van Achterberg (NED) on the other. The final match between Marine Ecorchon and Elke Van Achterberg was tactical with caution and nerve being held by both opponents. Elke Van Acterberg being the eventual winner with a score of 12-11, making this her second gold medal of the World Cup competitions.

Eleven countries were represented in the strong field for the mens U23 Epee competition and included debuts from France, Italy and Canada. This exciting event showed the determination and promise of all of these young athletes and the final match between Emanuele Lambertini (ITA) and Hakan Akkaya (TUR) was no exception. Lambertini was the eventual gold medalist after a strong performance from both fencers for a final score of 15-9.