The podium for the men's sabre competition on the opening day of the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Dubai ©FIE

Colin Heathcock and Magda Skarbonkiewicz won gold medals in the sabre discipline on the opening day of the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Dubai.

In the men’s individual junior sabre event 152 fencers started with German Heathcock triumphing in the final by beating Pietro Torre of Italy 15-10.

Colin Heathcock had earlier beaten his brother Antonio Heathcock in the semi-finals 15-9, while Torre had defeated South Korea’s Heegeun Hwang by the same score.

Antonio Heathcock and Hwang were both awarded bronze medals as beaten semi-finalists.

In the women’s individual junior sabre competition 126 fencers started with Skarbonkiewicz victorious after overcoming compatriot Honor Johnson in a match-up between two United States fencers 15-9.

Earlier in the semi-finals Skarbonkiewicz beat Uzbekistan’s Zaynab Dayibekova 15-8, while Johnson defeated Sugar Katinka Battai of Hungary 15-10.

As defeated semi-finalists, bronze medals were awarded to both Dayibekova and Katinka Battai.

In total 18 events are due to take place over nine days at the Hamdan Sports Complex.