Nigerian siblings Sarah and Mahathir Idongesit recorded a mixed set of results at the FIE Junior World Cup in Cairo, Egypt, but emerged with valuable experience as they continue preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Championships.
Sarah Idongesit, competing in the women’s epee, enjoyed a promising debut at the international event, advancing from Pool 4, which featured seven fencers, to reach the knockout stage.
Her campaign ended in the elimination round after a defeat to Russia’s Viktoria Ramenskova.
Reflecting on her performance, Sarah described the tournament as a major learning curve.
“Competing in Egypt has added more knowledge to me, especially going up against some of the best fencers in the world,” she said. “This is a rare opportunity I truly cherish, and I hope to attend more tournaments ahead of the Commonwealth Championships in Nigeria later this year.”
Mahathir Idongesit, meanwhile, faced a tougher challenge in the men’s event after being drawn against several of the world’s top junior fencers. He was unable to progress beyond the group stage but remained positive about the experience gained.
“I had no expectations for this competition, and that took away the pressure,” Mahathir explained. “My aim was to improve and gain experience, which I hope to build on before the Commonwealth Championships later in the year.”
The two-day FIE-sanctioned Junior World Cup attracted participants from over 30 countries, underlining the high level of competition in Cairo.
Meanwhile, Nigerian fencing coach Bola Suru, with support from the International Fencing Federation (FIE), was part of the technical crew at the event.
She also took part in a three-day FIE training camp held before the tournament, aimed at supporting athletes during a crucial phase of preparation for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
According to Suru, the camp—made possible through Olympic Solidarity—provided valuable exposure and learning opportunities for both athletes and coaches, further strengthening Nigeria’s pathway in international fencing.
