Canada's Dylan French earns bronze at world fencing championship

Fencing foils are pictured in this file image published to Flickr on Jan. 22, 2010. (Flickr / Riley Kaminer)

PLODIV, Bulgaria -- Canada's Dylan French earned a bronze medal in epee Saturday at the world junior fencing championship.

French, from Richmond. B.C., rallied to beat Sweden's Linus Islas Flygare 15-14 in the quarter-finals. Brendh rallied from a 7-4 deficit to twice tie the match (13-13 and 14-14) before scoring the final decisive point.

But American Justin Yoo defeated French 15-12 in the semifinals. Yoo went on to lose 15-14 to Hungary's Patrik Esztergalyos in the final, with French and Hungarian Gergely Toth earning the bronze medals.

"Dylan had a great performance, and we're extremely proud of what he accomplished today," said Canadian team manager Igor Gantsevich.

French also cemented a spot at the Youth Olympic Games, which will be held this summer in China.

Vancouver's Qifan Wang finished 31st while Toronto's Sahil Bablani was 82nd.

Alexanne Verret of Quebec City was the top Canadian in the women's epee, finishing 30th. Vancouver's Emma Von Dadelszen was 49th while Toronto's Cindy Gao finished 62nd.