EFC launched a new website in conjunction with opening of the 2018 European Cadet and Junior Championships in Sochi, Russia.
Muhari, Hungary, and Khalimbekov, Russia, take Gold in Cadet Women’s Epee and Men’s Sabre respectively, once again confirming their nations’ production-line of fencing talent.
While most of Europe experiences a cold snap the competition amongst the elite of Europe’s young fencing talent is heating up in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia. Nearly 900 athletes from 28 countries from all over Europe to compete. It is fitting at this moment celebrating the future of the sport that the European Fencing Confederation has chosen to launch a brand new website (http://eurofencing.info/) representing a major leap forward in its ability to communicate with its members and provide up to date engaging content to followers of the sport.
Cadet Women’s Epee
Day 1 of the championships saw Cadet Men’s Sabre and Women’s Epee kick off the championships. The first semi final of the championship in Women’s Epee saw Sara Maria Kowalczyk (ITA) facing off against Eszter Muhari (HUN). The two traded points quickly in the first period with Kowalczyk leading for most of the period, Mahari however managed to fight back and took a two-point lead into the first break at 12 – 10. This lead proved insurmountable for the Italian and the Hungarian was able to secure the victory with counter actions finishing the match 15-10.
The second semi-final saw Karolina Taszulonek (POL) face Kinga Dekany (HUN) in a much cagier affair. The turning point in the match came half-way through the second period with Tazulonek already chasing a two-point lead for Dekany at 6-4 fell three points behind. With Tazulonek pushed into attacking Dekany extended her lead to 10-5 going at the end of the second period which would prove decisive for the Hungarian winning 15-6 and setting up an all-Hungarian final.
As so often the case with finals between team-mates the Women’s epee final proved to be a tight and nervous affair the first hit being scored after 50 seconds of play by Muhari. Left-handed Muhari went on to take the lead shortly afterwards and stretched her lead to 4-1 by the end of the first period. Forced into chasing a lead, Dekany, the taller of the two, who had seemed so comfortable from a position of counter-attacking in the semi-final was unable to overcome this deficit and the three-point cushion remained for the rest of the match. Muhari cementing her title with a commanding performance.
Final rankings can be found here.
Cadet Men’s Sabre
In Cadet Men’s Sabre the first semi-final saw Balazs Kaiser (HUN) against the number one seed and Magamed Khalimbekov (RUS). Despite a notable disparity of size and height heavily in favour of the Russian, Kaiser lead narrowly into the break at 8-7 and extended his lead to 11-8 early in the second period with some excellent attacks. As the contest became tenser and the action focused on the centre of the piste however several tight calls in the centre went the way of Khalimbekov in order to get him back in the match and a take a slender lead which he managed to build upon and see him through to the final 15-12.
The second semi-final saw a thrilling encounter between Oleg Yuzhakov (RUS) and Ian Ren (GBR). At first it seemed that the occasion had got to the young British fencer as he succumbed to an early onslaught from Yuzhakov trailing 7-2 before finding his feet and a number of effective stop-hits to score five unanswered hits. Yuzhavkov managed to score the final hit before the break but this ding-dong encounter stayed close as the two traded hits until 12-all. Ren then gave himself every chance of a final-berth with two powerful attacks taking him to 14-12 only for the Russian to fight back to 14-all. Finally, on the narrowest of calls the two prepared in the centre with Ren just beginning first with his hand after the referee consulted the video. Ren advanced to the final on the narrowest of margins.
Unfortunately for the young Brit, the final against Khalimbekov (RUS) began in the very same manner but this time the relentless aggression of the Russian left him with little room to claw his way back into the fight. Khalimbekov long reaching attacks produced an 8-2 lead at the break and while the second half saw a brave fight back from Ren it was too late. Khalimbekov secures the first medal for the home team in Sochi.
