Epeeist Marie-Florence Candassamy qualified for the final of the World Fencing Championships on Tuesday in Milan where she will face Italian Alberta Santuccio on home soil. Candassamy ensures at least a silver medal for the French delegation from the first day of these last Worlds before the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It is, at 32, the first world podium for the West Indian and even the first for the French women’s epee since 2010 and the coronation of Maureen Nisima in Paris. Before the Olympic deadline, the weapon confirms its return to the fore after missing the team qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. To reach the final, Marie-Florence Candassamy gave a lesson to the reigning Olympic champion, the Chinese Sun Yiwen, outclassed 14-10.