CADET & JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012 REPORT – DAY 9

Russia win both the Men’s & Women’s team Epee gold medals

Men’s and Women’s Epee was on the schedule for the ninth and last day of the Cadet & Junior World Championships in Moscow’s Olympic Arena.

Women’s Team Epee

Great Britain didn’t enter a team into this event but there were 27 other teams involved in the competition.  The event was won by the home team, Russia, (Gudkova, Khrapina, Magdich and reserve Bakhareva) who beat China (Lin, Qin and Xiang) 45-42 in a tense match.  The Chinese team started well and led 20-13 after four relay matches.  On came the individual champion, Gudkova and she produced a display of marvelous epee fencing to take the Russian team to within four points at 24-23.  A difficult match for Khrapina (RUS) followed which saw her substituted.  The Chinese led 30-27 at this stage.  Bakhareva (RUS) came on for the penultimate match and put in a professional performance but still the Russians trailed 37-35 going into the last match.  Gudkova anchored the Russian team and scored 10-5 in the final match to bring the gold medal home for Russia.  The bronze medal went to the USA who beat Estonia 45-38 in a stunning match.

Full Results Here

Men’s Team Epee

Great Britain’s team of James Frewin, Christopher Hay and Jack Hudson and Phillip Marsh joined a field of 33 teams in the Men’s Team Foil event.  Ranked 12^th, they had a bye through the round of 64 and then faced the 21^st seeds in the round of 32, Germany.  After a tricky start the GB team found themselves 15-6 down after three fights and never recovered, going down 45-34.

The event was won by a determined Russian team (Anokhin, Bida, Glaskov and reserve Kalinin) 45-33 against the Italy (Fichera, Santarelli, Vallosio and reserve Eposito).  A tight start saw the Russians take an early lead after three fights, 15-13.  A double in the fourth followed by a call for non-combativity (i.e. the fencers not attempting to hit each other) meant that the fight progress straight to the fifth bout.  Anokhin laid down a marker for the Russians taking it 8-4.  The lead increased to seven hits (30-23) after the sixth relay and the team from Russia confidently closed out the last three matches to take the World title.  The bronze medal went to the Korean team who beat China 45-39 in an exciting match.

Full Results Coming Soon

GB Placing:  18^th

The Russian team topped the Medal Table on home soil and you can view the nations ranking here.

Off the piste, British Fencing’s Board Director, David King and Media Officer, Karim Bashir provided over 90 hours of live commentary for the international federation’s (FIE) live-streamed feed for the event.