Máté Koch
Hungarian fencers enjoyed a successful World Cup weekend. With outstanding performances in épée and sabre, the Hungarian delegation secured two World Cup victories, one silver medal, and one bronze medal. Máté Koch and the women’s sabre team stood at the top of the podium, while Krisztián Rabb and Gergely Kovács rounded off an impressive overall result.
At the men’s épée World Cup in Casablanca, Morocco, seven Hungarian athletes qualified for the main draw. Máté Koch delivered the most outstanding performance. The Olympic team champion and 2023 individual world champion progressed confidently through the early rounds. After victories over Dmitri Gusev (15–9), Damian Michalak (15–4), Masaru Yamada (15–7), and Elmir Alimzhanov (15–10), he faced a formidable challenge in the semifinals: Koki Kano, the 2024 Olympic champion and 2025 world champion.
The bout showcased fencing of the highest tactical standard. With regulation time drawing to a close, Máté Koch was trailing 6–8. Through sheer determination, he forced the contest into overtime, where he landed the decisive single touch to secure his place in the final.
In the gold-medal bout, he faced Italy’s Matteo Galassi, who had previously defeated Gergely Kovács 15–11 in the semifinals.
Kovács earned a place on the podium and the bronze medal after victories over Erik Tobias (15–14), Aymerick Gally (15–10), Mateusz Antkiewicz (15–12), and Kirill Prokhodov (15–7).
The final proved to be a roller-coaster. Máté Koch turned a 2–6 deficit into a 7–6 lead, fell behind again at 7–9, then responded with a scoring run to take a 12–9 advantage. Maintaining his concentration, he ultimately won the bout 15–11.
At the same time, the sabre fencers were competing in Oran, Algeria. Of the three Hungarian fencers who reached the main draw, top seed Krisztián Rabb progressed the furthest.
The European champion and Olympic team silver medalist demonstrated remarkable composure on his way to the final.
After victories over Antonio Heathcock (15–14) and Mitchell Saron (15–10), he advanced to the round of 16. There, he defeated Uzbekistan’s Musa Aymuratov 15–14 before overcoming Romania’s Vlad Covaliu 15–12 in the quarterfinals. Trailing 3–7 against Colin Heathcock in the semifinals, Krisztián Rabb fought his way back into the contest and landed the decisive touch after the score reached 14–14.
His winning run came to an end only in the final. Facing reigning world champion Sandro Bazadze of Georgia, the Hungarian fencer lost 12–15 and claimed the silver medal.
The Hungarian women’s sabre team provided the crowning achievement of the weekend on Sunday in Oran. The team competed at full strength, fielding the exact lineup that had won the world title at the World Championships in Hong Kong during the summer: Sugár Battai, Luca Szűcs, Renáta Katona, and Anna Spiesz.
Competing against 21 nations, the Hungarians reached the semifinals with victories over Hong Kong (45–38) and Spain (45–25). Azerbaijan was unable to compete because of an injury, allowing the Hungarian team to advance to the final without having to fence. There, they faced China in a rematch of the World Championship final. Just as they had in the summer, when Hungary won 45–41, the Chinese team pushed the Hungarians to their limits. After building a comfortable lead, Hungary saw its advantage dwindle as China fought back to level the score at 41–41.
However, in the decisive final stages, Luca Szűcs kept her composure and led the team to a 45–42 victory and the World Cup title.
This success also carries strategic significance. For the Hungarian women’s sabre team, remaining among the world’s top eight in the rankings until the start of the one-year Olympic qualification period in the spring is essential to securing favorable seeding for upcoming tournaments. Ranked second in the world before the competition in Algeria, the team reinforced its ambitions on the road to the Olympic Games.
Hungary also won the world title in 2022 and 2023.Continue reading
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Illyés Tibor
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