Piers Gilliver marks return to action with double gold as University of Bath-based wheelchair fencers impress at Warsaw World Cup
University of Bath-based wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver made a successful return to competition after injury by winning double gold at the IWAS World Cup in Warsaw, Poland.
Paralympic, World and European Champion Gilliver hasn’t competed internationally since December but was quickly back to his best as he dominated the Category A epee, sealing the title with a 15-5 victory over China’s Saichun Zhong.
He followed that up with a second gold in the Category A sabre, overcoming home favourite Michal Siatkowski 15-14 in the round of 32 on his way to a final showdown with Hungary’s Richard Osvath that he won 15-12.
Training partner Dimitri Coutya won bronze in the Category B epee, only being denied a place in the final by a narrow 15-13 defeat to Thailand’s Visit Kingmanaw, and joined forces with Oliver Lam-Watson and Joshua Waddell to place third in the men’s team event, the medal being secured with a 45-38 victory over Hungary.
Also on the podium for British Fencing was Gemma Collis, who won bronze in the Category A sabre.
The Team Bath Sports Training Village is home to the Wheelchair Fencing National Training Centre, a spacious and purpose-built facility which opened in December 2022. Click here to find out more.
