Sharjah World Cup medal keeps wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver on course for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
University of Bath-based wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver moved closer to Rio 2016 Paralympic Games qualification by winning epee bronze at the Sharjah World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The 21-year-old’s latest international medal success – his fifth during the Rio qualification period – ensured he remains top of the ranking list going into 2016.
Gilliver, whose lead coach is Baldip Sahota, won five of his six poule bouts in Sharjah to go into the knockout stages seeded sixth.
He then beat France’s Damien Tokatlian 15-9 before recording convincing 15-4 victories over Rafal Bogdan Treter of Poland and France’s Romain Noble, the London 2012 Paralympic silver-medallist.
However, Gilliver’s progress ended at the semi-final stage as he was narrowly beaten 15-13 by experienced Russian Artur Yusupov.
Gilliver, who trains alongside Pentathlon GB athletes in the Sports Training Village fencing salle, also finished a fine sixth in the foil competition in Sharjah.
After winning four of his poule bouts, Gilliver overcame Poland’s Rafal Ziomek 15-11 and Ludovic Lemoine of France 15-12 before losing out 15-9 to China’s Sai Chun Zhong in the quarter-finals.
