Odisha Wheelchair Fencer Wins World U23 Silver Medal

Bhubaneswar: Pabitra Sahu achieved a historic success for India and home state Odisha, winning the silver medal in men’s sabre event of the 2024 Wheelchair Fencing Under-23 World Championships in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on April 21.

Clemens Cursiefen (Germany) bagged the gold, while Kevin Damasceno (Brazil) and Phoopa Sae-Sim (Thailand) settled for bronze.

It would have been a gold medal for Sahu had he not lowered his guard towards the end of the final match. Leading 13-9 at one point, the Odisha fencer could not handle pressure due to lack of experience and lost the match 14-15.

Being the only competitor from India, Sahu had to manage everything himself at the World U-23 Championships. However, displaying remarkable skill and courage, he asserted supremacy almost throughout the sabre event, winning all of his four matches in Pool A as well as the semifinals.

A native of Dhenkanal district, Sahu was at his best in the semifinals, trouncing Thai opponent Phoopa Sae-Sim 15-5. Student of BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, Sahu earned the opportunity to compete at the U-23 World Championships by winning a total of 10 medals in three National Wheelchair Fencing Championships.

The 10 medals featured two gold, two silver and one bronze this year at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; one gold and two silver at Karnal, Haryana last year, and one gold and one bronze also at Karnal in 2021.

Courtesy: orisports.com