Hungarian fencing had an exceptionally successful weekend: after Áron Szilágyi’s victory in individual fencing on Saturday, the men’s team also won a gold medal at the International Fencing Federation’s (FIE) World Cup in Budapest! Although the line-up had to be changed due to Csanád Gémesi’s unfortunate injury on Saturday, this did not upset the fencers.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
After more than six years, the Hungarian men’s fencing team won a gold medal at the World Cup, and after 13 years in front of their home crowd, in Budapest’s BOK Hall. The sabre fencing team, consisting of Tamás Decsi, Nikolász Iliász, András Szatmári, and Áron Szilágyi, defeated the French side 45:38 in the final. Áron Szilágyi also won a gold medal in individual fencing. What is also unusual is that Szilágyi has never won two gold medals in one weekend at a world competition.
On Sunday, the Hungarian sabre team won for the first time with a 45:30 victory over Spain in the round of 16. Iran then made it very difficult in the quarterfinals when they led 22:25 after the fifth bout, but then world-class Áron Szilágyi overturned the tables and won his bout by 8:3. The Hungarian team then refused to give up the lead and finally won 45:37 entering the semifinals to clash with Romania.
The Romanian team surprisingly defeated the world number one, Olympic, and world champion South Korea in the quarterfinals. However, the Hungarian quartet managed to overcome Romania 45:30, who already secured a medal.
In the final, the Hungarian team defeated an excellent French side relatively easily by 45:38, meaning that the Hungarian men’s team won a gold medal at a World Cup after more than six years.
Three-time Olympic, World, and European champion Áron Szilágyi also won a gold medal in individual fencing. In the final, Szilágyi defeated Italy’s Luca Curatolli by 15-7.
‘This was the first time in my career that I won a gold medal both in the individual and team events in one weekend, and it was on home turf. I am very happy and proud of our team, everyone did what was necessary to achieve this feat,” Szilágyi commented after the competition.
Áron Szilágyi. Image by Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
The sabre team’s head coach (and Szilágyi’s trainer) András Decsi was understandably satisfied after the weekend: “It’s a great feeling that everyone contributed what was necessary to the result, and if this goes on, we will have reason for joy in the future as well.” National coach Gábor Boczkó also praised the athletes, saying: “the men’s results speak for themselves. This is amazing, especially here at home. But I am also very happy about the women’s bronze medal in Istanbul. It has been a great weekend.”
featured image via Hungarian Fencing Federation / Magyar Vívó Szövetség- Facebook