One of the most exciting stages of the 2026 Fencing World Championships concluded in Hong Kong. The main event of the tournament for the Ukrainian national team was the sensational victory of fencer Alina Polozhuk, who won the bronze medal. This achievement is historic: for the first time in the history of world championships, a Ukrainian athlete has reached the podium in the individual women's foil competition.
The Road to Sensation and Victory Over the Top-Ranked Fencer
The path to the medal proved difficult for Polozhuk. In the preliminary rounds, the Ukrainian had to overcome strong opponents from China, Spain, and Moldova. Huang Qianqian, Maria Marino, and Adeline Senic fell victim to Alina's precise technique and will to win.
However, the quarterfinal became the truly turning point. In this bout, Polozhuk faced Martina Batini — a three-time world champion and the current leader of the world rankings. The tough battle ended in favor of the Ukrainian, which immediately guaranteed her at least a bronze medal and caused a real sensation in the fencing community.
Semifinal Against a Legend
In the semifinal, Alina's opponent was a legend of world fencing, the 38-year-old Italian Arianna Errigo. The experienced athlete has 10 World Championship gold medals and 16 European Championship titles to her name. Despite Polozhuk's bold play, she could not reach the final: Errigo secured a confident victory with a score of 15:7.
Interestingly, the World Championship final will feature two representatives of Italy: Arianna Errigo and Martina Favaretto.
Results for the Ukrainian National Team
Alina Polozhuk's medal was the first for the Ukrainian national team at the 2026 planetary championship. The other representatives of the country in women's foil — Daria Myroniuk, Kristina Petrova, and Olga Sopit — were unable to advance past the round of 32.
On the eve of the tournament, the media discussed the participation of fencers from Russia and Belarus, who returned to international competitions thanks to a legal loophole. However, it was the Ukrainian athlete who became the main triumphator of the tournament, proving that in fencing, as in life, the one who is ready to go to the end wins.
