Israeli fencer wins gold medal in European Junior Championships

The 17-year-old from Maccabi Ma'alot overcame two opponents from fencing powerhouse Italy before defeating Ukraine's Inna Brovko 15-13 in the final.

By ALLON SINAI
Israeli fencer Vera Kanevski won a gold medal in the women's epee competition at the European Junior Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (photo credit: AUGUSTO BIZZI)
Israeli fencer Vera Kanevski won a gold medal in the women's epee competition at the European Junior Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
(photo credit: AUGUSTO BIZZI)
Israeli fencer Vera Kanevski won a gold medal in the women's epee competition at the European Junior Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on Tuesday night.
The 17-year-old from Maccabi Ma'alot overcame two opponents from fencing powerhouse Italy before defeating Ukraine's Inna Brovko 15-13 in the final.
"I didn't think this day would end like this," said Kanevski. "I'm happy that everything fell into place." Kanevski already displayed her great potential last year when she ended the 2016 Rio Olympics European Qualification Tournament in 10th place as a 16-year-old, while also finishing the World Junior Championships in fifth place.
Kanevski was joined in the last eight in Plovdiv by Ma'alot teammate Nikol Gavrielko, who finished in sixth place, and Yana Botvinik, who ended the competition in eighth.
"This was an amazing day for our team," said national team coach Doron Levit. "There aren't many teams in the world that can finish with three fencers in the top eight, especially with one of them winning the gold. I'm delighted with Vera's amazing achievement and we are now focusing on the team event."
Gavrielko and Botvinik, as well as Jacob Pizenberg, who ended the men's epee event in sixth place on Monday, traveled to Bulgaria at the expense of their clubs and their own expense due to the financial difficulties of the Israel Fencing Association.