Britain's best foiled again

Britain's disappointing showing in the World Championships continued in Cape Town yesterday when three more fencers were beaten in the first round.

James Williams, Mark Fletcher and Ian Williams all lost in the men's sabre to follow Tuesday's early exits of Fiona McIntosh, Linda Strachan and Lucy Harris in the women's foil.

James Williams went down 15-11 to China's Zuo Bin, Fletcher crashed 15- 8 to Spaniard Fernando Medina and Ian Williams was defeated 15-12 by German Steffen Wiesinger. The British tale of woe was maintained by Khaled Beydoun's 15-5 drubbing by Korean Kim Seung-Pyo in the first round of the men's foil.