Josh takes U17 World Bronze in Poland!
Durham Wheelchair Fencer, Josh Waddell took Bronze medal at the inaugural U17 Wheelchair World Championships in Poland in the Cat A men's epee event! The day before he was ranked 4th after achieving 5 victories and 1 loss in the poules but narrowly lost in the quarter finals of the foil loosing to German Julilus Haupt 15-11. In the men's epee Josh had another strong poule with 3 victories and a narrow 1 loss and achieving an initial ranking of 4th. Into the direct elimination Josh first beat the fencer who denied him a foil medal Julius Haupt 15-11 and going on to beat Yin Chu from Hong Kong 15-7 in the quarter final that secured him at least a bronze. The semi-final was against Russian Oleg Gavrilenkov was a tougher task and Josh's journey finished with a 15-5 loss to the World Champion!
Josh trains at the Regional Fencing Centre in Durham with head coach Prof. Laszlo Jakab. Josh hopes to follow the 'wheels' of previous Paralympians who have come through the Durham Centre, Gemma Collis, Lee Fawcett and David Heaton!
See Josh in action at the School Games in Loughborough 1-3rd September.