Ruslan Kurbanov inscribed his name in the annals of sporting history at 2023 World Fencing Championships, as he became the first Kazakh fencer to secure a medal in a world-level fencing championship.
In the tournament, being held from July 22-30 in Milan, Italy, Kurbanov secured the bronze medal and a place in national sports history.
The Kazakh fencer had a difficult field of rivals to overcome to place in the top three of the individual epee division, including Yannick Borel of France, a four-time team world champion and a three-time Olympic champion.
Kurbanov emerged victorious 15:14 against the French and moved on to defeat Valerio Cuomo of Italy in the quarterfinals. The Kazakh athlete won in 15:12, earning the bronze medal.
Milan is hosting the prestigious FIE Fencing World Championships, a grand event that has drawn the participation of more than 1,000 fencers from 158 nations. The championships feature intense competition across 12 different categories, making it a truly global celebration of the sport of fencing.
The ongoing championships in Milan serves as a crucial opportunity for fencers to earn ranking points for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games in 2024.