KBRN, Solo: Indonesia’s fencing standout Sri Lestari earned a top-ten finish at the Para Fencing World Cup 2025 in Solo, Central Java, following a strong performance that carried her to the Round of 16. Competing in the women’s epee category, Lestari was defeated 15–10 by Hong Kong’s Ching Tang at the Manahan Indoor Sports Hall on Monday, September 15, 2025.

Despite the loss, her cumulative score from the group stage through the knockout round placed her ninth overall. Rima Ferdianto, Deputy Secretary-General of the Indonesian Paralympic Committee (NPC), praised Lestari’s achievement.

“Our main goal at this World Cup was to give athletes international exposure, but Lestari surprised us by reaching the last 16. Even though she lost to Hong Kong, she still finished ninth,” Rima Ferdianto told RRI on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

The gold medal in Lestari’s category went to South Korea’s Kwon Hyo Kyeong, the silver medalist from the Paris 2024 Paralympics, a result Rima Ferdianto said was expected.

Indonesia has officially fielded 10 athletes at the Para Fencing World Cup 2025. They will continue competing in both men’s and women’s events through Thursday, September 18.

Indonesia's star athlete, Sri Lestari (left), finished ninth at the Para Fencing World Cup 2025 in Solo on Monday September 15, 2025. (Photo: NPC Indonesia)

Rima Ferdianto hopes that the tournament will provide valuable experience for the athletes and coaching staff.

“We hope that over the next three days, more of our athletes will gain match experience against top-ranked fencers. This will be a key learning opportunity for our coaches as we prepare for the ASEAN Para Games 2025,” he said.

On the opening day, winners emerged from four different countries: Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and France. Japan’s Takaaki Sasajima delivered a major upset by defeating Paris 2024 Paralympics silver medalist Visit Kingmanaw 15–9 in the final of the foil male senior individual B class.

Thailand’s Saysunee Jana continued her dominant form, winning gold in the epee female senior individual B class. “I was fully prepared for this World Cup in Solo, having undergone special training for a year,” Saysunee said.

France’s Damien Tokatlian claimed gold in the foil male senior individual A class.

Para Fencing World Cup 2025 Medal Winners Monday, September 15, 2025

1. Foil Male Senior Individual A

- Gold: Damien Tokatlian (France).

- Silver: Julius Haupt (Germany).

- Bronze: Shintaro Kano (Japan), Phoopa Sae Sim (Thailand).

2. Foil Male Senior Individual B

- Gold: Takaaki Sasajima (Japan).

- Silver: Visit Kingmanaw (Thailand).

- Bronze: Hwan Ryu Eun (South Korea), Sean Glass (Hong Kong).

3. Epee Female Senior Individual A

- Gold: Hyo Kyeong Kwon (South Korea).

- Silver: Gemma Collins (Great Britain).

- Bronze: Judith Rodriguez Menendez (Spain), Sunmi Kim (South Korea).

4. Epee Female Senior Individual B

- Gold: Saysunee Jana (Thailand).

- Silver: Eun Hye Cho (South Korea).

- Bronze: Ting Tong Nga (Hong Kong), Sara Rogowska (Poland). ***

Translator: Naura Sofia

Editor: Lasti Martina