USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – During this same weekend last year, three-time Junior World medalist Margaret Lu (Greenwich, Conn.) won her first Junior World Cup title in Bratislava, Slovakia.

On Saturday, Lu returned to Bratislava to earn her second Junior World Cup title out of a field of 134 competitors.

Lu completed the pools as one of just six athletes to go undefeated which gave her a bye into the table of 64 as the third seed of the tournament.

Lu opened the direct elimination tables with a 15-7 victory over Karen Weis (GER) and a 15-5 win against Melinda Hajdu (HUN).

In the table of 16, Lu met Francesca Palumbo – an Italian who won the silver medal at the first Junior World Cup of the season. This time, Lu cut Palumbo’s bid for a second medal short with a 15-11 win.

Lu secured her trip to the medal rounds with a 15-4 victory over Bartl Thekla (GER) in the quarter-finals.

In the semifinals, Lu held Russian Alime Rashidova to just eight touches as she won the bout, 15-8.

Lu clinched the gold medal after her sixth straight DE victory where she defeated Adelina Zagidullina (RUS), 15-10.

Lu’s teammate at the 2011 Cadet World Championships, Nobuo Bravo (San Francisco, Calif.), earned the best finish in Bratislava for the U.S. men with his second career top-eight result at a Junior World Cup.

Bravo won his first direct elimination bout with a 15-5 victory over Mateusz Nitter (POL) in the table of 128.

In the table of 64, Bravo defeated Italian Francesco Ingargiola (ITA), 15-8. 

Bravo fenced his 2011 Cadet World teammate Brian Kaneshige (Maplewood, N.J.) in the next bout where Bravo took the victory, 15-13.

Bravo defeated 2011 Cadet World medalist Alexander Choupenitch (CZE), 15-13, but finished seventh after an 11-10 loss to Saverio Schiavone (ITA).

Competition continues on Sunday at the Bratislava Junior World Cup where Team USA will fence in the men’s and women’s epee events.

Click here to view complete results for the women’s foil event.

Click here to view complete results for the men’s foil event.

Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:

Women’s Bratislava Junior Foil World Cup
1. Margaret Lu (Greenwich, Conn.)
2. Adelina Zagidullina (RUS)
2. Alina Fatkullina (RUS)
3. Alime Rashidova (RUS)
5. Matilde Biagiotti (ITA)
6. Pauline Ranvier (FRA)
7. Theklo Bartl (GER)
8. Erica Cipressa (ITA)

27. Sara Taffel (New York City, N.Y.)
47. Jacqueline Dubrovich (Riverdale, N.J.)
46. MW McElwee (San Francisco, Calif.)
59. Ashley Tsue (Overland Park, Kans.)
70. Eliza Klyce (San Francisco, Calif.)
93. Kyjah Coryat (New York City, N.Y.)
99. Hali Nelson (Brookline, Mass.)
104. Miranda Litzinger (Los Gatos, Calif.)
111. Kaila Budofsky (New York City, N.Y.)
121. Kate Northrop (Bridgewater, N.J.)

Men’s Bratislava Junior Foil World Cup
1. Maxime Pauty (FRA)
2. Pavel Borontov (RUS)
3. Kirill Lichagin (RUS)
3. Saverio Schiavone (ITA)
5. Lorenzo Nista (ITA)
6. Anton Zakharikov (RUS)
7. Nobuo Bravo (San Francisco, Calif.)
8. Anthony Aurey (FRA)

11. John Avendano (Colts Neck, N.J.)
22. Brian Kaneshige (Maplewood, N.J.)
58. Jeffrey Chen (Cupertino, Calif.)
66. Darren Mei (Cupertino, Calif.)
71. Andre Cornman (Tiburon, Calif.)
83. Thomas Dudey (Bellaire, Texas)
86. Daniel Holley (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
102. Matthew Branman (Villanova, Pa.)
125. Stephen Mageras (Darien, Conn.)
131. Brian Howard (Petaluma, Calif.)