France's Luidgi Middleton celebrates winning the gold medal in the épée at the Junior and Cadets World Fencing Championships in Verona ©FIE

Home athlete Davide Di Veroli came within a point of earning a second successive gold medal at the Junior and Cadets World Fencing Championships in Verona.

Di Veroli, gold medallist in the men’s under-17 épée at last year’s Championships in Plovdiv, reached the men’s under-20 final, where he was beaten 14-13 by France’s Luidgi Middleton.

Middleton had beaten the top seed, the Czech Republic's Jakub Jurka, in the round of 16. in a Championship taking place due to last until April 9 at the headquarters of the Cattolica Sport society, located in the industrial area of the city.

Di Veroli had been seeded sixth, one behind Italian compatriot Valerio Cuomo, who helped earn a team gold medal in the under-20 men’s épée at last year’s World Championships in Bulgaria.

Cuomo was beaten in the round of 16 by Russia’s Ivan Limarev, defeated in turn by Di Veroli in the quarter-finals.

Russia's Anastasia Soldatova won the women’s under-20 épée title at the FIE Junior and Cadets World Championships in Verona with victory over Poland's Julia Falinksa in the final ©FIE
Russia's Anastasia Soldatova won the women’s under-20 épée title at the FIE Junior and Cadets World Championships in Verona with victory over Poland's Julia Falinksa in the final ©FIE

Anastasia Soldatova of Russia took the women’s under-20 épée title after defeating Poland’s Julia Falinksa 15-11.

Two Hungarian fencers lost in the semi-finals – Emma Borsody was beaten by Falinska, and Soldatova beat Kinga Nagy.

Italian fencers are hoping to replicate the success they enjoyed in Plovdiv, where they won a total of 12 medals, including the two golds.

More than 1,250 young athletes have converged for this International Fencing Federation (FIE) event.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the men’s and women’s under-17 épée events.