The podium for the men's individual junior foil competition on day four of the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships ©FIE

Kazaki Iimura and Lauren Scruggs won men’s and women’s individual junior foil titles on the fourth day of action at the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Dubai.

In the men’s junior foil competition, 180 fencers took part with Japan's Iimura taking gold after defeating South Korea’s Hyeonbhin An 15-13 in the final.

Earlier in the semi-final stage An defeated Anas Anane of France 15-9, while Iimura overcame Chase Emmer of the United States 15-7.

As defeated semi-finalists Anane and Emmer both claimed bronze medals.

The podium for the women's junior foil discipline at the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships ©FIE
The podium for the women's junior foil discipline at the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships ©FIE

In the women’s junior foil discipline, which featured 148 fencers, gold went to Scruggs of the US, who followed up her titles at the 2019 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Torun, Poland, when she won both the junior and cadet foil disciplines.

In the final in Dubai, Scruggs was a convincing winner as she beat Yuzuha Takeyama of Japan 15-3.

Earlier in the semi-finals Scruggs overcame Ukraine’s Kateryna Budenko 15-7, while Takeyama edged past Britain’s Carolina Stutchbury, winning 15-14.

As defeated semi-finalists Budenko and Stutchbury both won bronze medals.

Action is taking place at the Hamdan Sports Complex, with a total of 18 events scheduled over the course of nine days.