Vio merits favourite tag with wheelchair fencing foil victory at Rio 2016 Paralympics

The 19-year-old had gone 11 tournaments undefeated in the lead-up to her Paralympic debut and she did not disappoint when her time arrived on the big stage.

Victory for Vio never looked in doubt as she cruised through the preliminary rounds without defeat, before showing her ability with a 15-1 victory over defending Paralympic champion, China’s Fang Yao, in the semi-final.

Her opponent in the final, China’s Jingjing Zhou, had already won individual epee gold at Rio 2016, but there was to be no repeat of that success as Vio asserted her dominance in the final.

Vio quickly built up a 13-7 lead but there were a few tense moments before she could seal the title. At one point Zhou’s weapon entered Vio’s mask, meaning she needed ice applied to the back of her head. However she continued undeterred and went on to secure a 15-7 success.

In the women’s category A foil event there was to be no eighth Paralympic gold for Hong Kong’s Chui Yee Yu as she was beaten 15-8 by the world number two, China’s Jing Rong.

However Yu’s silver medal means she does equal the record for the most Paralympic medals held by a female fencer. Hungary’s Zsuszanna Krajnya took bronze which means she has now won medals at five consecutive Paralympic Games, a run which began at Sydney 2000.

Another gold medal for China was already guaranteed as compatriots Yanke Feng and Daoliang Hu met in the final of the men’s foil category B competition. Hu was denied a third consecutive Paralympic title as Feng battled to a 15-11 win.

In the men’s category A foil, the world number two, Hungary’s Richard Osvath, could not prevent a third Chinese gold medal as he went down to China’s Ruyi Ye.

The 15-8 victory for Ye meant he added another Paralympic title to the one he won four years ago, with his gold on this occasion bringing China’s tally to six in wheelchair fencing at Rio 2016.