From Budapest, the Hungarian capital, 15‑year‑old Bulgarian fencer Ralitsa Gadzheva has earned a silver medal in the women’s cadet event of the World Cup 2026, falling to Germany’s Luisa Rezi in the final, the Bulgarian Fencing Federation reported via BTA on Saturday.
The World Cup ran from November 5‑8 and featured 131 fencers from 22 countries. Gadzheva entered the elimination rounds after advancing from the group stage with four victories and two defeats.
In the second round, she out‑scored Hong Kong’s Yuyan Uu Zou 15‑8. She followed that with a 15‑5 win over fellow Bulgarian Dora Hristova, and 15‑9 against Hungary’s Boglarka Komjathy. The match that secured a place on the podium saw Gadzheva defeat Germany’s Amilia Mertens 15‑3.
The semifinal saw Gadzheva defeat China’s Yingxiao Zhou 15‑11. In the final, she was bested 7‑15 by Germany’s Luisa Rezi.
"The tournament was highly competitive and Gadzheva’s performance showcased her growing talent," the Bulgarian Fencing Federation said. The federation also noted her progression from a world‑wide field to the podium in her age‑group event.
