Emma Neikova, 18, won the gold medal in sabre at the European Junior and Women's Fencing Championships in Naples a few days ago. 70 fencers from 21 countries took part in the competition. 

Today she told the Bulgarian daily Telegraf that she won the gold medal despite playing with a wrist splint on her right hand due to an injury she suffered at the World Championships in Peru. "The doctors at Pirogov hospital told me that I had stretched the ligaments in my thumb and recommended a long break. I told them that was out of the question because I was going to the European Championships. I really wanted this medal and I had waited too long," said Emma.