In brief
At the Budapest World Cup 2026, 15‑year‑old Bulgarian Gadzheva captured a silver medal in the women's cadet event. She advanced from a nine‑fencer group stage with a 4‑2 record, then dominated three consecutive knock‑out rounds before losing 7‑15 to Germany’s Rezi in the final. The win marks a historic best finish for Bulgaria in this competition.
In Budapest, Hungary, on 7 November 2026, Bulgarian fencer Gadzheva won silver in the women’s cadet event at the World Cup held from 5 to 8 November, according to the Bulgarian Fencing Federation and BTA.
The competition saw 131 fencers from 22 countries compete in the women’s cadet category, with Gadzheva finishing the group stage with four victories and two defeats. Her group opponents included fencers from Germany and Hungary, tasks that she overcame to secure a place in the direct‑elimination bracket.
In the round of 32, the 15‑year‑old faced Hong Kong’s Yuyan Uu Zou and won with a decisive score of 15‑8, as recorded by BTA. The following round pitted Gadzheva against fellow Bulgarian Dora Hristova, where she again displayed dominance with a 15‑5 victory.
The quarterfinal round took her to the opposition of Hungary’s Boglarka Komjathy, a match that ended 15‑9 in favor of Gadzheva. The single‑loss elimination phase continued with a bout against Germany’s Amilia Mertens, which she completed with a 15‑3 scoreline, earning her a spot in the semifinals.
During the semifinal, Gadzheva faced China’s Yingxiao Zhou. Using a blend of tactical precision and aggressive offense, she prevailed 15‑11, setting up a showdown for the gold medal.
In the final, Gadzheva confronted Germany’s Luisa Rezi. Rezi leveraged her experience to outmatch the Bulgarian, achieving a 7‑15 victory, as detailed by BTA. The result handed the gold medal to Rezi and silver to Gadzheva.
In a statement released after the tournament, the Bulgarian Fencing Federation commended Gadzheva for her “exceptional performance and dedication,” calling the medal “a milestone for Bulgarian fencing.” The federation highlighted the athlete’s potential for future international competitions.
Experts note that Gadzheva's performance, especially her consistency in knockout rounds and ability to defeat multiple top‑ranked opponents, positions her as a promising talent for the upcoming World Championships and the Olympic qualifiers that will follow. The bronze medalists’ round, which saw strong participation from other European nations, underscores the growing competitiveness of the cadet division worldwide.
