the_sword_july_2015

ROUND UPseason performances have moved him up tothird with James Davis (GBR) in fourth. Just15 points separates the following four fencers– Jianfei Ma (CHN), Massialas (USA), Cassara(ITA) and Choupenitch (CZE).Women’s FoilElisa Di Francisca (ITA) began what was to bea stunning end to the season with a victoryat the Grand Prix in Havana. She beat InnaDeriglazova (RUS) in the final with Hee SookJeon (KOR) and Ysaora Thibus (FRA) joiningthem on the podium in bronze medal position.Di Francisca went on to win the followingevent – the World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim– beating team mate and World number one,Arianna Errigo in the final. Valentina Vezzalimade it a hat-trick of medals for the Italianteam with the bronze which she shared withInna Deriglazova (RUS). Despite near totaldominance in the individual event the Italian’slost to Russia in the team final as Korea beatGermany to bronze.The conclusion of this circuit was the GrandPrix in Shanghai and Di Francisca securedher third successive gold medal beatingDeriglazova in the final. Ines Boubakri (TUN)and Alice Volpi (ITA) ended their campaignswith bronze medals.Errigo still leads the World ranking but nowonly by one point from Elisa Di Francisca.There is then a big gap – 76 points – down tothird placed Lee Kiefer (USA) with Boubakri,Vezzali, Deriglazova and Batini not muchfurther behind. Russia lead the team rankingsby twelve points from Italy and then there isover 100 point separating them from the USAand Korea in joint fourth.Men’s SabreThis circuit continued with a Grand Prix inSeoul which Nicolas Limbach (GER) wonbeating Nicolas Rousset (FRA) in the final.Daryl Homer (USA) and Kamil Imbragimov(RUS) secured the bronze medals.World number one, Bongil Gu (KOR) wonthe following event – the Madrid WorldCup – with Ibragimov finishing second. MaxHartung (GER) and Tiberiu Dolniceanu (ROU)went home with the bronze medals. Hungarytook the team title beating Italy in the final.Germany beat China to the bronze medal.The final “major” of the season was theMoscow Grand Prix which Dolniceanu won,beating Matyas Szabo (GER) in the gold medalmatch. Tamas Desci (HUN) and Aron Szilagyi(HUN) were the bronze medallists.Gu (KOR) is 71 points clear at the top of theWorld ranking with Alexey Yakimenko (RUS) insecond. Just twenty points separate him fromDolniceanu, Kim (KOR), Ibragimov and Szilagyi.Germany continues to lead the team rankingsover Korea, Italy, Russia and Hungary.Women’s SabreThe Seoul Grand Prix was the sixth event onthis circuit and Olga Kharlan (UKR) securedthe title with victory over Ibtihaj Muhammad(USA). Sofya Velikaya (RUS) continued herstrong comeback with a bronze medal and shewas joined on the third step of the podium byMariel Zagunis (USA).Velikaya went on to win the next event – theBeijing World Cup – beating Aleksandra Socha(POL) in the final. Kharlan and Zagunis werethe bronze medallists. France won the teamevent beating Ukraine in the final as the USAbeat Russia to the bronze medal.The Moscow Grand Prix was the finalevent in all categories ahead of the WorldChampionships and the event was won by OlgaKharlan who beat Yana Egorian (RUS) and twoother Russians finished in the bronze medalplaces – Velikaya and Ekaterina Dyachenko.Kharlan goes into the zonal and WorldChampionships nearly 100 points up on MarielZagunis with Velikaya a further twenty-fourpoints behind. Dyanchenko, Egorian, Gregorio,Wozniak, Socha, Vougiouka and Kim are afurther 40-plus points behind the leadingthree. The USA lead the team rankingsfollowed by France, Russia, Ukraine, Italy andKorea.Those selected to represent their countryat the World Championships will head toMoscow in July. With more points on offerthere than at any other ranking event andOlympic qualification well under way we willhave a better idea of who we will see in Rionext year at the end of the season. There willno doubt be a couple of surprises to look outfor not least of which are who will make upthe French Men’s Epee squad and both Italianfoil squads. Will Robeiri even get a chanceto defend his World title and will the Italiansplump for selected promising younger foilistsover experienced multiple medal winners? Wewill have to wait and see.Karim BashirT: 07855 252546media@britishfencing.comJULY 2015 THE SWORD 27