Another Medal for Canada at the 2015 Junior & Cadet World Fencing Championships
Canada increased its medals to two on the first day of the Junior competition at the 2015 Junior & Cadet World Fencing Championships taking place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Eleanor Harvey won silver in women’s foil, repeating her performance from 2014.
Ranked second after pools, having won all six of her bouts, Harvey had a bye to the round of 64 where she faced Josefina Lawton from Denmark, who she defeated 15-5. Harvey then faced Coralie Brot from France in the round of 32 and won 15-8. In the round of 16, Harvey faced a tougher opponent in Iman Blow from the USA, who was ranked 4th in the World Junior rankings. Harvey won 15-8 putting her into the round of 8, where she fenced Daylen Moreno Valiente from Cuba and won 15-9.
It was then on to the semi-finals for Harvey and a guaranteed medal for Canada. In a hard fought bout with Leonie Ebert from Germany, Harvey came out on top 11-8 and earned a trip to the final.
The final was a repeat from 2014 with Harvey facing Sara Taffel this time from the USA. In 2014, Harvey lost to Lee Keifer in overtime 7-6. In the 2015 final, Harvey was behind 11-6 at one point but managed to come back and the two were tied at 12-12 going into the last period. The tide turned however when a call in favour of Harvey was overturned and Taffel went on to win 15-12.
Harvey’s repeat silver medal in Women’s Junior Foil gives Canada its second medal of these Championships. Loic Beaulieu (Sherbrooke, QC) won bronze in Men’s Epee in cadet competition earlier in the week. In addition to Beaulieu’s medal, the cadet competition finished with a 6th place finish by Sarah Filby (Winnipeg, MB) in Cadet Women’s Foil and a 7th place finish in Cadet Mixed Team.
Also in competition today was Junior Men’s Epee with Marc-Antoine Blais-Belanger earning Canada’s best result. Blais-Belanger advanced to the round of 64 where he lost to finish in 38th place out of 153 competitors.
Competition continues tomorrow with Individual Junior Women’s Sabre, Junior Men's Foil and Team competition in Junior Men’s Epee.
-30-