UAE finish on top at NAS Fencing Championship
DUBAI: Hosts UAE dominated the Fencing competition at the 11th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament being held at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.
Led by Khalid Mubarak, who struck the only gold in the senior men’s Saber competition, the UAE finished the competition with a total of seven medals, including three silver and three bronze apiece.
Contesting in a field of 13 fencers from various countries, Mubarak secured a narrow 15-13 win against countryman Khalifa Alebri to pocket the gold medal. Hamad Al Maazmi beat Saudi Arabia’s Ahmad Alomran to take the bronze and complete the clean sweep for the UAE.
At the end of the four finals, Engineer Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of UAE, Arab and Asian Fencing Federations, was joined by Saeed Harib, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council and Mahmoud Bassiony, Assistant Brand Manager of Pocari Sweat, in presenting the various winners with medals.
Egypt’s Abdel Rehman Haffour topped the senior men’s foil competition as he brushed aside UAE’S Faris Al Blooshi 15-8.
Tunisia’s Mohammed Ayoub Ferjani had to settle for bronze after getting the better of Hungary’s Daniel Robert Kiss in third-place playoff.
The senior men’s epee competition atracted the biggest field of 28 fencers, and it was Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Abed bagging top honours with a hard-fought 12-11 win against Estonia’s Sten Priinits in the final.
The UAE’S Khalifa Al Zarooni took the bronze following victory over Egypt’s Ahmed El Saghir.
Tunisia’s Sarah Besbes proved her superior fencing skills as she picked up the gold medal in the senior women’s epee category.
Tunisian star Sarah won 15-7 against home favourite Al Anoud Al Saadi to take home the top prize and the gold medal.
Sheikha Al Zaabi of the UAE had to stay content with the bronze medal, while Mira Al Hammadi, took fourth place.
The UAE topped the medals table with seven medals, including the lone gold of Khalid in the senior men’s saber, while Tunisia were second with two medals, Saudi Arabia finished third with one gold leaving Egypt and Estonia in fourth and fith places respectively.