Egyptian fencing icon Alaaeldin Abouelkassem has won his first major medal since his silver at the London Olympic Games in 2012, clinching the medal on Sunday in the Grand Prix championship that took place in Havana, Cuba.

Abouelkassem lost to Britain’s Richard Kruse in the final after the latter beat world No. 1 Alex Massialas 15-14.

The Egyptian is set to represent his country in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 2012 London Olympics silver medalist is the first Egyptian and African to win an Olympic fencing medal in the men’s individual foil after fighting bravely in a narrow 15-13 defeat to China’s Sheng Leii.

He burst onto the scene after winning the U-20 World Championship bronze medal in Italy in 2008 before winning gold two years later at the same championship in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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