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The Hungarian men’s sabre team – consisting of Áron Szilágyi, Csanád Gémesi, Krisztián Rabb, and Nikolász Iliász – lost to Italy in the final, finishing the World Fencing Championships in Tbilisi with a silver medal.
The defending Hungarian team defeated the United Arab Emirates national team convincingly on Sunday, then confidently won against Georgia and China in Monday’s quarter-finals, and then Romania in a closer but equally convincing match in the semi-finals. In the final, they faced Italy, whom they had beaten by ten points in the final of the European Championships in Genoa in June. Last year’s Olympic quarter-final between the two teams also ended in victory for Hungary.
Monday’s final also started well, with Áron Szilágyi and Krisztián Rabb leading 10-4 after their bouts. However, Csanád Gémesi struggled against the aggressively attacking Michele Gallo, who won the duel 11-4.
Szilágyi beat Matteo Neri 6-2, but Nikolász Iliász, who replaced Gémesi, also lost 8-2 to Luca Curatoli, and from then on, the Italians led throughout.
Áron Szilágyi (L) and Matteo Neri. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Rabb suffered a narrow defeat, as did Gémesi, who had been replaced, and then Szilágyi was also unable to do anything against Gallo, who won all three of his bouts. In the end, Rabb reduced the deficit against Curatoli, but the Italians still won by eight points (45-37).
Krisztián Rabb (L) and Michele Gallo. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Even after the results were announced, two hours after their last match, the Hungarian sabre fencers were still disappointed.
We performed very well in our first three matches, but the final loss to Italy left its mark on the day. I think that in the end, we thought we had it in the bag, and that is why we are disappointed,”
Csanád Gémesi told MTI.
L-R: Nikolász Iliász, Csanád Gémesi, Áron Szilágyi, and Krisztián Rabb after losing the final. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Szilágyi said that he was very upset about losing the final. “We really wanted to win. Less than a month and a half ago, we confidently beat this Italian team in the European Championship final. I am sorry that it did not work out this time. Of course, they fenced better.
Gallo was outstanding, but Curatoli also fenced exceptionally well, hence we can only congratulate them. We will try to beat them next year.”
He also talked about how the team’s strength is its adaptability, which is why he was disappointed that they did not respond well to the Italians’ more aggressive tactics than usual. At the same time, he said that when a team comes back twice, like their opponents did this time, it gives them a big psychological advantage, and then it is very difficult to stop them.
Shortly after the final, Zsolt Nemcsik, head coach of the men’s sabre team, said that he could not be satisfied with the silver medal, but overall they had had a good season, as they had won the European Championships and this time they had finished second and performed consistently well until the final.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt