Yuandong Chen is one of the main athletes standing between South Korea’s Hyo Kyeong Kwon and her dream of becoming a world champion in the women’s epee category A at home this September.

The final on Thursday was a replay of the same top-quality gold medal clash seen during Paris 2024 and unfortunately for Kwon, it was the same result.

Chen took the win 15-8 with a strong performance but Kwon still looks determined to secure what would be a very special world title in September.

All of Thursday’s action can be watched back on World Para Fencing’s website and photos are available for editorial use here.

Elsewhere on the podium, it is difficult to keep track of how many medals Para fencing legend Yu Chui Yee of Hong Kong, China, has from more than three decades of competing but she ended the day with another – bronze. China’s Haiyan Gu rounded off the podium finishers.

China’s Yang Chen put paid to any hopes of a home gold in the men’s foil category A, dispatching Hungarian world No.1 Richard Osvath in the semi-final.

In doing so, Chen set-up a clash with Paris 2024 bronze medallist teammate Saichun Zhong for overall victory.

All-China matches always attract a lot of attention from fellow athletes and the match was another masterclass from Zhong. He carved out an unassailable lead against Chen, reaching the magic 15 first whilst Chen could only land eight hits and settle for silver.

Osvath’s appearance in the semi-final secured him his latest podium finish with bronze. Li Hao rounded off a trio of Chinese medals with the other bronze.

The men’s foil category B saw Benjun Qin show signs he might take over the baton from one of his country’s – and the world’s – best Para fencers, Yanke Feng.

Qin got past Paris 2024 silver medallist Feng for a place in the final where he faced, and beat, compatriot Fan Li Zhu with a 15-10 score.

Feng still make a podium appearance, in third, alongside Ukraine’s Oleg Naumenko.

Su Kang topped the standings in the women’s epee category B, securing another win for China on the opening day in Eger.

Italy’s Julia Markowska made her first appearance on the epee podium, claiming silver but pushing Kang all the way.

Improving on her best ever performance of seventh, South Korea’s Ye Jim Kim showed great promise for her upcoming home World Championships with bronze. Ukraine’s Olena Fedota-Isaeva claimed the second bronze, maintaining her reputation for consistency.

Action continues in Eger on Friday with the men’s epee and women’s sabre.