Taipei: Taiwanese fencer Ariel Lin is poised to become the world No. 1 in the cadet women’s épée category following her recent success at the Egypt World Cup. Lin, who was ranked fourth globally in the under-17 category prior to the competition, secured a narrow victory against Canada’s Serena Xu with a 10-9 score in a tense final held in Cairo on Thursday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the FIE Junior World Cup season features five tournaments across different countries, including Costa Rica, Italy, Bahrain, Egypt, and China. Lin has already demonstrated remarkable performance by winning two golds and one bronze in the first four events, including her latest triumph in Egypt. The upcoming event in China is scheduled for February 12.

While the current world rankings on the FIE’s official website have not yet been updated, it is anticipated that the 15-year-old Lin will rise to the No. 1 position, making her the youngest among the top 10 competitors globally in her category. Lin’s coach, Lee Chun-cheng, shared t
hat despite experiencing discomfort in her right wrist during the early stages of the tournament, Lin remained composed and patient, which contributed to her success in the direct elimination rounds.

Lin achieved a 4-2 record in Pool 1, tying for the second-best position, and maintained an unbeaten streak throughout the knockout stage. Lee indicated that Lin is expected to compete as the world No. 1 at the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championship in February and the Fencing Cadet and Junior World Championships in April.