At the 2024 U23 Wheelchair Fencing World Championships, Joshua Waddell claimed the crown in both Foil and Epee.
GBR wheelchair fencer Joshua Waddell took double gold in Foil and Epee at the U23 World Championships, held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
On Monday 22nd April, Josh began his campaign with the U23 Wheelchair Men’s Foil. Following a strong performance in the poules, he went into the Direct Elimination rounds seeded 1st and earning a bye into the tableau of 8. After scoring 15-4 against Pabitra Sahu (IND) 15-4, Josh then went on to defeat Thailand’s Phoopa Sae-Sim 15-9 on home soil in the semi-final. In the final, Josh defeated Sean Glass (HKG) in a decisive 15-6 victory, winning gold. This marks the first time that Josh has claimed the U23 World title in Foil, having taken bronze at last year’s World Championships in Busan.
Josh then took a second gold on the final day of the U23 World Championships: this time in Epee. Having previously claimed gold last year in Busan, Josh sought to defend his title.
Following another strong performance in the poules, Josh went into the Direct Elimination rounds seeded second only to Sae-Sim. After earning another bye to the tableau of 8, Josh defeated Germany’s Clemens Cursiefen with a close score of 15-14. The semi-final featured a rematch between him and Sean Glass, with Josh eventually taking a 15-9 win.
He then once again met Phoopa Sae-Sim, this time for the final. The match was close, both fencers level at 14-14; yet Josh emerged victorious to take the gold. With this win, Josh remains the reigning U23 Epee World Champion for a second year running.
After this second win, Josh said,
“Getting two world titles is great, but the achievement is still part of my learning in both this success and challenges throughout the day. We still keep looking to learn.”
Josh trains both at Durham University Fencing Club, where he is coached by Laszlo Jakab and Rit Sutera Ritrawe, and also at the Bath-based Wheelchair Fencing National Training Centre, alongside other members of the GBR wheelchair fencing squad
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