Romania top in women's team epee, China beats France in men's foil Catania

Catania, 16 October 2011 - The Fencing World Championships 2011 closed today

with the last team events in women's epee and men's foil. Romania took the

title in women's team epee for the second time in a row

The women's epee team final was a tight match from the beginning. Being

behind after the first three relay bouts, the Romanian women's epee team

took the lead only in the seventh of nine bouts. In the last bout, Li Na

(CHN) could close the two touch gap but Simona Alexandru made the last touch

to secure the title for Romania 27:26.

Host Italy ranked third, defeating Germany in the bronze medal match.

In men's foil, last years' team champion China faced France who had defeated

Germany in the semi-final. Before the last relay bout, China was 41:35 in

front. In an thrilling fight, Erwan Le Pechoux (FRA) could close the gap to

44:44. However, it was Lei Sheng (CHN) who made the final touch.

In the bronze medal match, Germany won against Poland 45:33. The Germans had

upset the Italian favourites in the quarterfinals 45:35.

Host Italy finished first in the medal table with four gold, three silver

and four bronze medals. Russia is on the second place with four gold medals

and one bronze medal. With two gold and two silver medals, China ranks

third.

937 athletes from 114 countries took part. 5.000 spectators watched the

colourful Opening Ceremony on the University square of Catania. The event

was supported by 290 volunteers, 42 referees, 30 medical staff and doctors.

In the closing press conference Ana Pascu, Vize President of the FIE, said:

"With the London Olympic Games coming up next year these World Championships

have been important for us. Catania 2011 was a very strong event. I want to

congratulate our Italian hosts and all the volunteers for organizing such a

big event. It has been really hard work. Technical problems that existed

were solved very fast."

"We have seen a record World Championships. We never had so many

participants and participating countries before. The FIE helps its member

federations to send at least one fencer to the World Championships and the

international training camp in the run up to this event with 70 fencers from

70 countries was a good success" added Peter Jacobs, Treasurer and Member of

the Bureau of the FIE.

Sophia Velikaia (RUS), double World Champion in women's sabre, was awarded

"Best Sportsman/Sportswoman" of the World Championships 2011. In the

individual event, she had defeated the top ranked and two times Olympic

Champion Mariel Zagunis (USA) 15:14 after being behind 5:12. She also led

the Russian women's sabre team to the second world team title in a row.

The Fair Play award of Catania 2011 went to epeeist Nikolay Novosjolov

(EST). In the quarter finals of the men's epee individual events, the

referee had appointed a touch to Novosjolov after an infighting situation.

The Estonian however admitted that he had hit himself by accident and asked

for the touch to be discounted. The match was very close at that time and

Novosjolov could have easily benefited. Therefore, the Fair Play Commission

and the FIE decided to award his sportsmanship and integrity with the Fair

Play award of these championships.

* *

*Medal table:*

1. Italy

2. Russia

3. China

4. France

5. Romania

6. USA

7. Ukraine

8. Germany

For more information, contact: katrin.holz@fie.ch

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