2024 Paris Paralympic Wheelchair Fencing: Tang Yating Advances to Bronze Medal Match

The 2024⁣ Paris‌ Paralympic‌ Wheelchair⁢ Fencing event entered its fifth day on Friday, with the women’s epee individual competition taking center stage. Hong Kong’s Tang Yating, also known as the “Paralympic first ⁢brother,” ⁢lost to Thailand’s JANA Saysunee in the top four but made a‍ strong comeback in ​the ​resurrection match, defeating⁤ Canadian ⁣rising ‌star ​LOWTHIAN Trinity 15-14.‍ Tang ⁣Yating will face Ukraine’s FEDOTA-ISAIEVA Olena⁤ in the bronze medal match at 00:30.

Tang Yating’s opponent,‌ LOWTHIAN​ Trinity, is a 22-year-old ‌Canadian fencer who started wheelchair ⁤fencing⁤ in 2008. Despite her ⁣relatively short experience, Trinity did‌ not fall behind ‌in the battle, using her speed to lead⁢ 3-0 at the beginning. Tang Yating adjusted and scored two points in‌ a row to catch up to 4-5, completing the ⁣first​ quarter. The battle was tight in the second quarter, with⁤ both sides competing fiercely. ‌Tang ⁢Yating fought back to lead 7-5 at 14-13, but Trinity‍ tied​ the score‌ at‍ 14-14. Tang Yating withstood the ‍pressure and ⁤”dueled” Trinity 15-14 ​to advance to the bronze medal match.

Yu Cuiyi, another Hong Kong⁢ fencer, defeated American⁤ and⁤ Spanish fencers in the A-level rematch. However,⁢ she lost to Poland’s ⁣FIDRYCH Marta in the third‌ round, falling behind 2-6 and unable to reverse ⁤the score despite ⁣catching up ​to ‌12-14 at 10-14. Yu Cuiyi’s ⁢medal hopes in the individual events were‍ dashed.

Tang Yating’s journey to the top four was not easy. She defeated Poland’s PACEK Jadwiga in the first round and then faced Anri Sakurai in the top eight. Tang Yating‌ fell behind at the beginning but strengthened her defense and attacked, finishing the ⁢first‌ quarter⁤ from 6-11 ‍to 9-11. In the second quarter,⁣ she even hit ‍6-0 to complete the reversal, defeating Anri Sakurai 15-12. Tang Yating then challenged the world’s “biggest sister” ANA‌ Saysunee of Thailand but lost 7-15, missing the​ finals and falling into ‍the ⁢resurrection match.

Yu Cuiyi, ranked 9th in the⁢ world,⁤ received a bye in the first round ⁢and ​went straight to the top‍ 16, beating France’s VIDE Brianna. ‌However, she lost to Spain’s ​RODRIGUEZ MENENDEZ Judith in the second round, missing ​the ‍medal. Yu Cuiyi then faced American‍ TAYLOR ‌Jataya‍ in the rematch but lost 11-15, ending her medal hopes.

The 49-year-old‍ veteran Fan‍ Peishan, ranked 22nd in⁣ the world, started from the top 32 but lost to France’s DELAVOIPIERE ​Clemence ⁢8-15, ​stopping in the first lap.

Tang Yating, ranked ‌5th in the B-level women’s weight class, faced⁤ Polish opponent ​PACEK Jadwiga in her first match.⁤ She maintained a 2-3‌ point gap and won 15-8⁤ to advance to the top eight. Tang Yating then competed‌ with‌ Japanese representative‌ Sakurai Anri ​for​ the top⁢ four seats but lost 7-15, missing ​the finals.

Zhong Wanping, another Hong Kong fencer, fell into the Easter match against Polish player Bosik but ⁢lost ⁢12-15, ending​ her medal hopes.

The Hong Kong team lost to Italy⁢ in the ‍women’s team bronze medal match, missing the medal. However, the four fencers⁣ gathered their​ spirits and switched to the epee individual event, with Tang Yating advancing⁤ to the bronze ⁢medal match.

Results:

• Tang Yating (HKG) def. ​LOWTHIAN Trinity ⁢(CAN) 15-14
• FEDOTA-ISAIEVA Olena (UKR) def. [opponent] [score]
• Yu Cuiyi (HKG) lost to FIDRYCH Marta‍ (POL) 12-15
• Tang Yating (HKG) def. Anri Sakurai (JPN) 15-12
• ANA⁣ Saysunee (THA) def. Tang Yating (HKG) 15-7
• Yu Cuiyi (HKG) lost to RODRIGUEZ‍ MENENDEZ Judith (ESP) 11-15
• Fan Peishan ⁣(HKG) lost to⁢ DELAVOIPIERE Clemence (FRA) 8-15
• Tang⁢ Yating (HKG) def. ‌PACEK ‍Jadwiga (POL) 15-8
• Sakurai⁤ Anri (JPN) ⁤def. Tang Yating⁢ (HKG) 15-7
• Zhong Wanping (HKG) lost⁢ to Bosik⁢ (POL) 12-15

Schedule:

• Bronze ⁣Medal ⁤Match: Tang Yating⁤ (HKG) vs. FEDOTA-ISAIEVA Olena (UKR) – 00:30