Paralympic Fencing: World Championships, Bebe Vio is still gold

Bebe Vio makes it three. The Venetian fencer has won the gold medal in the women's foil, Category B, at the Paralympic Fencing World Championships underway in Cheongju, South Korea. This is the Italian's third world title, following those won in Eger, Hungary, in 2015, and in Rome in 2017. The joy of the victory erupted at the end of the final against China's Xiao Rong, who was defeated 15-5. However, the Italian contained her celebration because the decisive blow came from a red card handed out to her opponent with the score at 14-5 in favor of the Mogliano native. This is the first gold medal for the Italian team in Korea, which, at the end of the third day, boasts a total of five medals. Adding to the haul this Thursday, Bebe Vio and William Russo and Consuelo Nora also took bronze. The Palermo native finished third in the men's épée (Category C) event, while Nora, in the women's foil (Category C), lost to Russia's Anna Gladilina in the semifinals, with a 15-14 defeat. Bebe, for her part, after a clean sweep in the group stage, defeated Hungary's Gyongyi Dani 15-3 in the round of 16, then followed that up with a 15-4 quarterfinal victory over Russia's Viktoria Boykova and a 15-8 semifinal victory over fellow Russian Ludmila Vasileva. "I'm happy because it's not easy to confirm yourself," the Italian explained immediately after her victory. "The years go by, the opponents change, and it's always more difficult, and therefore also more fun. I'm working to change and improve my fencing, and the results show we're doing a good job. Today's competition wasn't easy, especially in the semifinals when I met Russian Vasileva, who had defeated me at the World Cup in Kyoto. It's a shame the decisive blow actually came from a red card the referee gave her: I didn't celebrate as much as I would have liked, but the important thing is the result." Now the attention shifts to the team competition, scheduled for Sunday: "We arrive as defending champions and we have to do well," added Bebe. "It's the competition I care about the most because, as usual, we'll give it our all."