For the first time in the history of Kazakhstani fencing, a medal has been secured at a global championship.
Kazakhstani fencer Ruslan Kurbanov has clinched a bronze medal at the World Fencing Championship in Milan, as reported by Sarbaz.kz correspondent.
In the initial playoff round of the individual competition, Kurbanov emerged victorious after a fierce battle against Josef Maringer from Austria (15:14). In the second round, with a minimal advantage, the Kazakhstani athlete triumphed over Denmark's representative Conrad Seibæ Kongstad (14:13).
In the round of 16, Kurbanov faced off against one of the tournament's main contenders – the five-time world champion and 2016 Olympic champion in team épée, Yannick Borel. Once again, a demanding contest ensued, but Kurbanov proved to be more precise (15:14).
In the quarter-finals, a victory over Italy's Valerio Cuomo (15:12) not only secured Kurbanov a spot in the semi-finals but also a bronze medal.
However, in the semi-finals, Kurbanov yielded to Hungary's Maté Tamás Kohú (11:15), ultimately becoming a bronze medalist. He shared the third-place position with Romain Cannone of France. The world champion title was claimed by none other than Maté Kohú, who triumphed in the final against Italy's Davide Di Veroli.
In addition to Ruslan Kurbanov, Kazakhstan was also represented in the individual events by Elmir Alimzhanov, Erlik Sertai, and Vadim Sharlaymov.
The 31-year-old Ruslan Kurbanov holds the 16th position in the global rankings. He is a medalist of the Asian Championship, Asian Games, and the Summer Universiade. In 2022, he secured sixth place at the World Championship in Egypt, and in 2019, he attained eighth place at the World Championships in Hungary.
Kurbanov's medal is historic for Kazakhstan – it marks the first achievement by Kazakhstani fencers at global championships. Moreover, this success will earn him crucial points for qualification to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Previously, the Kazakhstani shooting team secured ten medals at the World Championship.
