Yoana Ilieva continues to write history in Bulgarian women's fencing and is now second in the world ranking of women's sabre, BNR reported.
The record ranking for her and our fencing was achieved with brilliant play throughout the season, a lot of work and self-confidence, BFFekhtovka wrote. Thus, after the fifth place in the individual competition of the world championship in Georgia, Ilieva will end an extremely successful season with an eye on the new one, in which more peaks await her.
In 2024/25, the graduate of the Svechnikov fencing club proved that she has enormous talent and ambition. Led by coach Ivaylo Vodenov, she went from 15th in the world rankings in September 2024 to finish at number 2 in July 2025.
In January, she reached the highest peak of her career – she won her first World Cup in the women's individual sabre competition. She did it in front of her home crowd, in Plovdiv, and proved that her place is at the top of fencing. In addition to the gold, she also won a silver medal at the SC in Heraklion (Greece), as well as a bronze medal in Cairo (Egypt).
She also won three bronze medals at the Grand Prix – of France, Tunisia and South Korea. At the European Championships in Genoa (Italy), she finished in seventh place. Thus, at the end of the season, only two-time world champion Misaki Emura from Japan remained ahead of her at the top of women's fencing, and the Bulgarian was undoubtedly the strongest fencer in 2024/25.
Ilieva will take to the trails for the last time this season on July 29 and 30, when the women's sabre team competition at the World Championships in Georgia takes place.