The trial format featured a quicker and more dynamic race to 30 points, rather than the traditional 45 seen in fencing. Fencers also only fenced against opponents in their own category, A and B.

The Chinese team of Haiyan Gu, Yuandong Chen, Xiao Rong, Xufeng Zou became the first ever gold medallists in the new format, beating Hungary categorically 30-13 in a replay of the final with the original points format from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Gu, Chen and Rong faced Eva Andreja Hajmasi, Anna Nadasdy and Helga Zsombok with Xufeng Zou the reserve for China and Zsuzsanna Krajnyak for Hungary.

An additional change to the 45-point format is that teams cannot make substitutions unless for medical reasons, meaning they have to strategise before the match gets underway.

In the bronze medal match Hong Kong, China’s, Ka Man Lam, Yu Chui Yee and Nga Ting Tong just edged Georgia by five points to take the final podium place.

Gvantsa Zadishvili, Nina Tibilashvili and Irma Khetsuriani tried hard to overcome Hong Kong’s lead and got within one point in the penultimate round, but legend of the sport Yee managed to get her team over the line.

In the men’s sabre, China emerged victorious. Yang Cheng, Hao Li and Yanke Feng with reserve Saichun Zhong triumphed over Ukraine’s Andrii Demchuk, Artem Manko, Dmytro Serozhenko and reserve Eduard Kudenko.

The bronze went to Germany’s Maurice Schmidt, Dimitrij Rout and Julius Haupt with reserve Balwinder Cheema.

Men’s epee review to follow…

The Eger 2025 Para Fencing World Cup took place from 15-18 May. It was the last World Cup ahead of the World Championships taking place in Iksan, South Korea, from 2-7 September. The Worlds are the biggest competition outside of the Paralympic Games.