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Veteran Szasz claims first Rio Olympics gold for Hungary in women's epee (updated)

Xinhua, August 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Emese Szasz earned Hungary its first gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games with victory in the women's epee individual event here on Saturday.

The 33-year-old veteran narrowly defeated two-time world champion Rossella Fiamingo of Italy 15-13 in the final. It is Hungary's third gold medal in the women's epee in the last five Olympics.

"I don't believe this. I worked a lot for this moment and maybe I have a few days before I believe. I was in the last two Olympic Games, but I did bad in London (2012) and Beijing (2008)," said Szasz, who finished 12th in Beijing and 25th in London.

Fiamingo had a chance to become the first Italian fencer to win the woman's epee individual event when she was leading 11-10 after the second round, but Szasz fought back to made it 14-12 before sealing the victory with a double-touch.

"Halfway through the bout I pushed too much, I was in a big lead (10-6) and she surprised me too many times. Maybe I was in too much of a rush," Fiamingo said.

China's Sun Yiwen won the bronze medal by defeating Lauren Rembi of France 15-13. Sun eliminated second-ranked Sarra Besbes of Tunisia in the quarterfinals.

"I think it is an amazing day. Whatever the result, I feel really happy to be here to compete in the Olympic Games," Sun said.

A raft of top-ranked fencers was ousted in the round of 32 including World No.1 Xu Anqi of China, third-ranked Tatiana Logunova of Russia and South Korea's Shin A Lam, who protested after losing the semifinals at London 2012. Endit