The FIE Junior and Cadet World Championships kicked off in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and young fencer Pan Qimiao was the star of the show! Despite battling a fever, the 15-year-old, ranked as the Junior World No. 1, earned a bronze medal in the junior women's individual sabre for host nation China. 🥉
Her journey in the competition was nothing short of dramatic. In the semifinal against USA's Alexandra Lee, Pan started strong with a 3-0 lead. However, the match took a twist as Lee rallied to take control, eventually winning 15-9 after a tense battle and tactical timeout. Meanwhile, neutral athlete Aleksandra Mikjailova stepped in to dominate the final, clinching the gold with an impressive 15-3 win.
On the boys' side, China's competitor Cui Zhanshuo secured the best spot among four participants by finishing 13th, as Italy's Cosimo Bertini grabbed the title in the junior men's individual sabre event.
Pan Qimiao's performance is a powerful reminder that dedication and resilience pay off—even when facing tough challenges. Her inspiring journey encourages all of us to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds. 🚀
Reference(s):
China's Pan Qimiao earns bronze at Junior & Cadet World Championships
cgtn.com
