This week the Budapest Men’s & Women’s Sabre World Cup marks the return to competitive international fencing after a 12-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also signals the resumption of qualification for the upcoming To
Women’s Sabre Preview
Going into the event Russia, France and Italy have already secured their team qualification for the Olympic Games. Hungary leads the race for the additional place allocated to a team from Europe but Ukraine is also still in that race. There are a number of scenarios where both teams could qualify especially if no African team qualifies.
Olga Kharlan of Ukraine has an unassailable lead in the race for the two additional individual European places but will relinquish that place if Ukraine qualify by team. Theodora Gkountoura of Greece currently occupies the second European place but Romania’s Bianca Pascu is in touching distance.
However, the final individual standings are very much dependent on the outcome of team qualification. Should Ukraine replace Hungary in team qualification the individual race between Hungarians, Liza Pusztai and Anna Marton will affect who claims the two European spots. Should both teams qualify by team ranking then Gkountoura and Pascu are the favourites to take the places.
Men’s Sabre Preview
Going into the event Italy and Hungary have confirmed their qualification for the Games as top four teams. Germany have also qualified and whilst they aren’t guaranteed a top four place, they cannot finish lower than as the top European team outside the top four. Russia currently holds that additional European place but a good result could see them overtake Germany. If they don’t overtake Germany they will be looking over their shoulders because France can catch them. The French team would need to finish 5th or higher to have a chance and need Russia to finish lower than them.
In the individual race, Sandro Bazadze of Georgia has confirmed his place as one of the two additional European fencers. France’s Bolade Apithy currently leads that race but will not need it if France qualifies by team. If France do achieve team qualification then Apithy’s place will go to one of two Russian’s, Kamil Ibragimov or Veniamin Reshetnikov.
There is a lot to play for in the Hungarian capital and it is likely that we will not know who has qualified through the team or individual rankings until late on the last day of competition. The Budapest World Cup is the final opportunity to qualify by rankings and takes place 11-14 March.
European countries who have not qualified any athletes by the team or individual rankings, will be able to send up to one male and one female sabre fencer to the European Olympic qualifier, due to take place in Madrid 24-25 April – the final Olympic qualification event for Europeans.
