Russia top in women's sabre, France wins the title in men's epee at Fencing World championships 2011

Catania, 15 October 2011 - With the gold medal in women's team sabre today,Russia took the third title in sabre fencing at these World Championships.The French men's epee team won the gold medal. This is the eighth title forFrance in a men's epee team World Championship in a row.

41 teams participated in the men's epee team competition. France and Hungaryhad made into the finals by beating Germany and Korea respectively China andSwitzerland. The final match turned out to be tight match. In the mid part,France held a lead, but Geza Imre closed the gap in the seventh bout forHungary and even brought Hungary in front by one touch. Jean-Michel Lucenay(FRA) dominated his relay bout against Peter Somfay and outscored theHungarians by 3 touches. In the last bout, Gauthier Grumier (FRA) securedthe first gold medal for France at these World Championships.

The Bronze medal match in men's team epee was a close up and down fightbetween Switzerland and Korea. In the first three bouts, both teams actedpassively and no point was scored. Fabian Kauter (SUI) was the first toscore in the fourth bout. In bout six, Korea took the lead 7:6. Koreastarted the final bout being one touch in front but Max Heinzer (SUI)

outscored JUN Jin Sun (KOR) by two touches to finish the win for Switzerland15:14.

In the women's sabre team final, the Ukrainian team took a lead in the firstthree bouts. However, in relay bout four Julia Gavrilova (RUS) upset OlenaKhomrova (UKR) to give her team a first lead, 20:18. The match continued tobe an up and down fight until relay bout eight where Julia Gavrilova (RUS)dominated Olga Zhovnir (UKR). In the last bout, Sophia Velikaia, theindividual World Champion of Catania 2011had to face Olga Kharlan (UKR), theOlympic team champion of 2008. But Velikaia did not relent and secured thegold medal and her second title during these World Championships.

In the bronze medal match, Azerbaidjan could challenge the team from theUnited States only in the beginning. In the fourth relay bout, DagmarWozniak (USA) outscored Aida Alasagrova (AZE) with six touches, bringing theUS team with 25:20 in front. From then on, the US team dominated the matchand won 45:40.

Although winning no mdeal today, Italy still leads the medal table with fourgold, three silver and three bronze medals. Russia is now on the secondplace with also four gold and one bronze medals. China is ranked third (onegold and one silver medal).

Tomorrow will follow the team finals in men's foil and women's epee.

* *

*Top 8 results men's epee:*

1. France

2. Hungary

3. Switzerland

4. Korea

5. Italy

6. Germany

7. China

8. Norway

*Top 8 results women's sabre:*

1. Russia

2. Ukraine

3. USA

4. Azerbaidjan

5. Poland

6. Hungary

7. Italy

8. China

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

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