China’s 15-year-old fencing prodigy Pan Qimiao clinched a bronze medal at the FIE Junior and Cadet World Championships in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, thrilling home fans with her spirited performance in the junior women’s individual sabre.
Entering the competition as the defending champion and ranked Junior World No. 1, Pan battled through a fever to dominate the early rounds. Her semifinal clash against the USA’s Alexandra Lee started promisingly, with Pan taking a swift 3-0 lead. However, Lee rallied to edge ahead 8-7 by the intermission.
After a tactical timeout, Pan fought back to level the score, igniting hopes of a comeback. But Lee regained momentum, ultimately securing a 15-9 victory to advance to the final.
In the championship match, neutral athlete Aleksandra Mikjailova overpowered Lee with a commanding 15-3 win to claim the gold medal.
“I gave it my all despite not feeling my best,” Pan said after the match. “I’m proud to have earned a medal for China on home soil.”
In the junior men’s individual sabre, China’s Cui Zhanshuo finished 13th, marking the best result among the nation’s four competitors. Italy’s Cosimo Bertini captured the men’s title.
The FIE Junior and Cadet World Championships showcase the world’s finest young fencing talents, and Pan’s performance highlights China’s rising stars in the sport.
