China Sports

Massialas, Sauer win at Foil Grand Prix Shanghai 2023/5/22 source: Print

SHANGHAI, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Alexander Massialas of the United States and Germany's Anne Sauer won the men's and women's golds respectively at the FIE Foil Grand Prix here on Sunday.

2016 Shanghai Grand Prix gold medalist and world No. 3 Massialas dominated the men's final from the very beginning, beating Italy's Francesco Ingargiola 15-7.

In the women's final, 2017 Shanghai Grand Prix winner Martina Batini saved one match point before losing to Sauer 15-14, for the latter to claim her first Grand Prix crown.

Four Chinese fencers made it into the men's last 64, with only Chen Haiwei advancing further to face Massialas in the next round. Chen once led 12-5 but had to swallow a sore 15-14 defeat to the same opponent with the same score at the same place seven years ago.

On the women's side, Lin Qiwen made a stunning run into the last 16 to encounter world No. 5 Leonie Ebert of Germany. The 26-year-old overcame an 8-2 disadvantage to win the bout 15-13, before losing to Batini in the last 8.

"This is my first time reaching the round of 64, and I am surprised," Lin said after the match, calling it an "exceptional performance" to reach the last 8.

"My opponent kept the distance, and I pushed forward a little too early, so she could see my moves very clearly. I was still a little slow on the piste and I made some mistakes while catching up," Lin added.


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