LAUSANNE, Switz., June 18, 2020—The FIE is saddened to be informed of the passing of Aleksandar Anastasov (MKD) at the age of 74. Fencing since age 16, he competed in the Silni Trophy competition on February 23, 2020 in Belgrade this year, taking a bronze medal despite battling a serious illness.
He competed in all three weapons in numerous national, zonal and international competitions and notably was 70+ world champion in men’s sabre at the 2017 Veteran Fencing World Championships in Maribor, Slovenia.He competed in the 1975 Budapest and 2009 Antalya Senior Fencing World Championships.
Ljubomir Shopovski, Secretary-General of the North Macedonia Fencing Federation, stated Mr. Anastasov was “one of our most prominent fencers and [one whom] we can certainly claim to be our best veteran”.
At the Veteran World Championships, he fenced three weapons over many seasons. In Maribor, Mr. Anastasov took a bronze in epee and was 12th in foil; he also earned bronzes at the 2016 Stralsund (sabre) and 2015 Limoges (foil) Veteran World Championships. He fenced epee satellite world cups over the last two decades, finishing in the top 64 (45th) at the 2018 Belgrade Satellite World Cup, 20th at the same event in 2009, and 13th at the 2009 Istanbul Satellite World Cup.
Mr. Anastasov earned medals at the Yugoslavia and Balkan championships, at multiple European Masters and European Veteran Championships, winning the Italian Cup for veterans, Champion of Bavaria, and he reigns as the current European Veteran Fencer of the Year in sabre.
We extend our deepest condolences on behalf of our world fencing family to Mr. Anastasov’s family and friends, the North Macedonia Fencing Federation and the European Fencing Federation, expressing our deepest sympathy during this challenging time.