Argentina beat hosts Brazil for their first Americas team fencing gold
Hugo Alderete scored six points in the final bout as Argentina won the new mixed team epee event in São Paulo. The victory delivered the country’s first team title at the Americas Para Fencing Championships. The shorter format, with a target of 20 instead of 45 points, is also part of the event’s introduction to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic programme.
Sports··Morning
Argentina take their first team title
Argentina claimed their first team gold at the Americas Para Fencing Championships, beating hosts Brazil in mixed team epee in São Paulo on 27 October. Carlos Freitas, Hugo Alderete, Karen Castillo and Dariana Janeth Fereira formed the winning team. The title is Argentina’s first at these championships across team competitions in all weapons.[1], [2]
The new mixed competition is contested to 20 points instead of the traditional target of 45. Brazil came into the final as the defending champion from the men’s team epee event. Fereira and Freitas gave Argentina a strong start against Monica Santos and Lenilson De Oliveira, but the teams were only 3 points apart at halfway.[1]
Alderete scores six in the final bout
Rayssa Veras brought the hosts within 1 point during her meeting with Castillo. That left Alderete to contest the closing bout against Jovane Guissone, the Brazilian who won Paralympic silver at Rio 2016. Alderete scored 6 points in that encounter to secure gold, leaving Brazil with the silver medal in the new event.[1], [2]
The United States took mixed epee bronze against Venezuela with Jataya Taylor, Scott Rodgers, Nicholas Badeaux and Victoria Isaacson. Venezuela initially led. Rodgers then established a 3-point advantage against Numa Rojas Estrada, and Taylor and Isaacson maintained and extended the lead to complete the Americans’ medal-winning performance in the opening event.[1]
Mixed epee enters the Los Angeles programme
Mixed team epee is one of the events making its Paralympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, alongside mixed team foil; both use the shorter 20-point target. São Paulo also offers qualification ranking points for those Games. The regional championship runs at Brazil’s Paralympic Training Center, with nearly 80 athletes from seven countries taking part.[1], [2]
The championships continue on 28 October with individual men’s epee and women’s foil in categories A and B. The competition programme extends through 1 November. Argentina’s mixed-team title came in the opening round of a tournament that has already put Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the United States and Venezuela on the podium.[1], [2]
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