2023-09-25 13:21:05
This is Kuwait’s first medal in fencing at the Continental Championship since its participation in 1974.
Al-Shamlan (24 years old) succeeded in overcoming several players before reaching the semi-finals and securing the bronze medal at the very least, as he won five matches in the group stage, then defeated his compatriot Muhammad Abdel Karim 15-11 in the round of 16, and Kazakhstan’s Artyom Sarkisyan 15-10 in the quarter-finals. Final.
In the semi-finals, Al-Shamlan made a good start, but his distinguished Korean opponent, Bongil Go, decided the confrontation 15-10.
Al-Shamlan told the beIN Sports channel, “We prepared strongly and underwent a camp in Italy. I expected to achieve something in the tournament… I got tired and achieved.”
Al-Shamlan continued, “I had a good start (in the semi-finals). After making a mistake, I retreated and gained experience from what happened.”
Gu (34 years old) is considered one of the most prominent international athletes in this competition, as he held the title in the last three editions and won two Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2020 with the teams.
It is known that the two losers in the round of four get a bronze medal.
Al-Shamlan reached the round of 32 in the 2023 Fencing World Cup in the Italian city of Milan in late July, and it was widely expected in Kuwait that he would snatch a medal in Hangzhou.
Fatima Hayat, a member of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee and director of the Kuwaiti delegation to the Games, said in a call to Agence France-Presse, “We expected in advance that an achievement would be achieved in fencing for the first time in the tournament, especially since there is a plan that was drawn up for the last three years.”
She continued, “We have a young team that includes talented players at young ages. Preparation took place in Italy under the leadership of Italian coach Luigi Tarantino,” the owner of four Olympic medals in Al-Hassam team competitions (silver and three bronze) and a two-time world champion (one in individual and one in team).
She added, “There is a long-term plan that we are proceeding according to its precise stages, with the aim of getting our athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympics, specifically Youssef Al-Shamlan.”
The head of the Women’s Committee in the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee expected her country to achieve additional medals in the shooting competitions, which she considered “the number one sport in Kuwait,” athletics, karate, and equestrian competitions.
© 2023 AFP
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