UIPM 2016 Youth A World Championships: Gold for Aurora, the starlet of Italy

Aurora Tognetti of Italy set her sights on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after winning gold in the Women’s Individual Final at the UIPM 2016 World Youth A Championships.

Tognetti, 17, has had a year of good progress since finishing 4th in the 2015 World Junior Championships in Mexico City (MEX). She was 3rd in the Junior European Championships last month in Drzonkow (POL), and there was no stopping her today as she conquered a strong field comprising the best under-17s in the sport.

Joining her on the podium at the University of Limerick were bronze medallist Haydy Morsy (EGY), who will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in five weeks’ time, and silver medallist Xeina Fralcova (RUS), who led Russia to team gold.

The strength of that podium was underlined by the fact that a world record breaker was kept out of the medals. Rebecca Langrehr (GER) set the tone for an amazing day as she broke a new Youth A world record for Fencing, winning an incredible 32 of her 35 bouts.

That gave Langrehr (GER) a big early lead as nobody else managed more than 25 victories, but it also meant that she effectively had a target on her back for the rest of the day.

The fastest Swimming performance came from Salma Abdelmaksoud (EGY), who in 2:12.34 was a second ahead of next-fastest Fralcova (RUS). Tognetti (ITA) was 4th.

The star of the Fencing Bonus Round was Morsy (EGY), who won three consecutive bouts and took the scalp of Langrehr (GER).

As the Tetrathlon format is used at this level, with Riding omitted, it was straight from the piste to the start line of the Combined Event, where Langrehr (GER) began with a 22-second advantage.

Fralcova (RUS) began 1min 8secs behind the leader, while Morsy (EGY) was 55secs behind and Tognetti (ITA) 53secs. All three medallists used their experience and composure to overcome significant handicaps, and, to the despair of Langrehr (GER), the Combined Event first starter herself, who finished 4th.

Tognetti (ITA) said after picking up her gold medal: “This year I worked really hard because last year my competition wasn’t good. Now I am happy and I am surprised, because I worked hard for this moment.

“Now we have the Olympic Games in Rio to look forward to, and I hope to be able to qualify for the next Olympics in Tokyo.”

After the Russian team picked up their gold medals, 6th-placed Adelina Ibatullina said: “We are happy with the team results but individually we are sure we could do more.

“We know that we are great runners and shooters, and maybe we could do a better job in reaching the target.”

Martin Dawe, the UIPM Executive Board Member for Marketing, commended the organisation of the event and said: “I think what we have seen today is very good for our sport. These are under-17-year-olds and some of the performances have been fantastic, and the potential on show is really good.

“The German girl only lost three fights and that was a phenomenal result, and quite clearly a world record. But in pentathlon of course it’s not just one event, and you have to be good in all events. She did very well.”

The 2016 UIPM World Youth A Championships continue tomorrow (July 17) with the Men’s Individual Final, before closing on Monday (July 18) with the Women’s, Men’s and Mixed Relays.

For live results go to pentathlon.org.