The Hungarian national team won silver medal in Budapest at the Men's Sabre Team World Cup while in Egypt both the women's saber- and men's épée team were successful.Continue reading
Krisztián Rabb, last year’s Olympic silver medalist in the team event, defeated world class fencers with a brilliant performance to stand on top of the podium at the Seoul Sabre Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Hungarian fencer started the competition against Fares Arfa from Canada, who he beat 15-8, then 15-7. In the next round, he easily defeated South Korean Li Jeju 15-7. Rabb had his first major success as he did not even give a chance to Fares Ferjani of Tunisia, the Olympic silver medalist and world number three, beating him 15-9.
The Hungarian continued his excellent form, although in the last eight the young South Korean Hwang Higunt gave him a serious challenge.
Encouraged by the home crowd, Hwang was already leading 12:8, but the Hungarian was able to turn the match around from there to 15:13.
In the evening program, the young Hungarian fencer had to face the Georgian Sandro Bazadze in the last four. Here, he again showed his best and dominated the bout to win 15-10.
Rabb was noticeably boosted by another win, exploding early in the final against Jean-Philippe Patrice to take a 6-1 lead. The Frenchman picked up the pace in the continuation, but at 11-6 he seemed unable to break the Hungarian’s momentum. Although the French fencer levelled up, Rabb rallied from 14-12 up then scored the decisive hit with a determined but patient attack.
Of course I am very happy, I felt in good shape all season, but until now I did not get the result, and now I did,”
Krisztián Rabb, who achieved his best ever adult individual success, told hunfencing.hu.
“My first adult individual medal was a gold, I hope it will not be my last. My apologies to my coach for my short attacks in the final, but maybe that was what it took to keep me from cutting myself off early in the end and chasing the Frenchman all the way to the end of the pack,” Rabb evaluated his match.
Via hunfencing.hu; Featured image: MTI/Illyés Tibor