Pulse #Fencing
Author: Andrii Nikitonok

Team Ukraine Wins Bronze at the Junior World Fencing Cup Without Three of Its Leaders

Team Ukraine Wins Bronze at the Junior World Fencing Cup Without Three of Its Leaders
Photo: Federazione Italiana Scherma

The battle for the medal came down to the final touch.

Team Ukraine's épée fencing squad won its second medal of the 2025/26 Junior World Cup season — team bronze at the stage in Udine, Italy, which wrapped up January 6.

Earlier, at the Junior World Cup stage in Burgos, Team Ukraine's women's squad also won gold in the team event, thanks to 2025 world champions Anna Maksymenko, Emily Konrad, Alina Dmytruk, and Valeriia Bilous-Hridzhak.

At the Italy stage, though, the coaching staff rotated the lineup, fielding Mariia Sereda, Polina Spyrydonova, Yuliia Fatula, and Valeriia Bilous-Hridzhak. The team's usual leaders, meanwhile, headed to the senior World Cup stage in Fujairah.

How the Team Competition Went at the Junior World Épée Cup in Udine

  • The national team skipped the round of 16 as the top seed, so it began competition in the round of 8. At that stage, the Ukrainian women beat Romania without trouble (41:30), and in the next round, Hong Kong (32:28).
  • In the semifinal, the 'yellow-and-blues' faced Team USA, which also left its team-event leaders off the roster — individual champion and bronze medalist Regina Lee and Nataliya Cafasso, along with the top-ranked American in the world rankings, Lea Machulski.
  • The Ukrainian team closed the gap on their opponents several times, but let the US pull away starting at the midpoint of the bout — finishing 32:45.
  • For the World Cup bronze, the Ukrainian women faced Hungary. At the start of the matchup, the 'yellow-and-blues' fell behind — trailing 20:25 after the first half. Yuliia Fatula turned the match around, taking the lead 29:28, and Valeriia Bilous-Hridzhak held on to the advantage (36:34).
  • The deciding bout for bronze came down to Mariia Sereda against Greta Hapchalia, which the Ukrainian won by a single touch — 45:44.

2026 Junior World Fencing Cup (Team, Épée)

1. China

2. USA

3. Ukraine

The individual competition, held the day before, went less successfully for the national team. The best-placed Ukrainians finished with Alina Dmytruk and Emily Konrad — taking 11th and 12th place, respectively. Valeriia Bilous-Hridzhak was eliminated in the round of 16, and Anna Maksymenko one round earlier.

The next stage of the Épée World Cup will be hosted by Manama, Bahrain. Competition takes place January 17 and 18.

Anna Maksymenko: Full DeTalks Interview

Watch DeTalks' full interview with Anna Maksymenko, the 2025 junior world and European fencing champion, on the project's YouTube channel.

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