30-January-2023 

Gergely SIKLOSI emerge champions of Qatar Grand Prix Fencing Championship 2023

The Peninsula

Doha: After three days of exciting sword crossing, the curtain finally fell on the Qatar Grand Prix Fencing Championship 2023 at the Aspire Dome in Doha with Hungary’s Gergely Siklosi beating  Belgian Neisser Loyola 15-10 to win the men’s category.

The President of the Qatar Fencing Federation (QFF), Abdullah Ali Al-Ghanim, along with the QFF board of directors and other top dignitaries, attended the final event and the award ceremony.

En route to the final of the Qatar leg of the one-series, nine-city International Fencing Federation (FIE)-organized Épée competition, world No. 8 Siklosi defeated Japan’s Akira Komata (ranked 27th) in the semi-finals, while No. 14 Loyola got the better of world No. 1 Yannick Borel of France in what was arguably the most exciting clash of the competition, winning 15-14 to book his final ticket.

“It has been a wonderful competition, and I am happy that I won in the end. It was a tough match, and I fought against a worthy opponent. I’ve enjoyed my stay in Qatar, and I would like to praise the organizers for the well-organized competition. “I’m delighted that I’m leaving with the championship medal on my neck,” Siklosi said.

Each of the winners walks away with the $5000 winner’s cash prize, besides the championship medal, while the finalists were rewarded with $3000 each. The semifinalists also got $1500 for their efforts.

While all eyes were on No. 1-ranked Yannick Borel of France to add the Doha competition champion’s medal to his rich collection, the 34-year-old 2018 individual world champion, who is also a four-time team world champion and four-time individual European champion, however, fell short when it mattered most against the 24-year-old Cuban-born Belgian, who relocated to Belgium when he was 16 after his father was appointed national coach of the Belgian team.

QFF President Al-Maadeed said, “We are happy that everything went well and the competition ended on a good note. I would like to congratulate the winners on their victory, and I would also like to extend my appreciation to my team for the successful organization of the competition.”

Points collected from the $22,000 total prize money event count in the Olympic qualification race for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

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January 30, 2023

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