The Budapest Sabre World Cup at the weekend marked the conclusion of sabre qualification for the Olympic Game by ranking.
Women’s Sabre
Going into the event Russia, France and Italy have already secured their team qualification for the Olympic Games. Hungary led the race for the additional place allocated to a team from Europe but Ukraine remained a contender. However that race ended in the quarterfinals with both teams going out meaning that Hungary have qualified for Tokyo.
Poland, with no chance of qualification, took a dramatic win in Budapest and look like a team that could challenge in the next Olympic cycle.
Despite going out in the round of 64, Olga Kharlan of Ukraine retained her individual qualification spot with Theodora Gkountoura of Greece securing the second place available to a European fencer.
The qualifiers for women’s sabre in full are:
- Teams: Russia, Italy, France, Korea, Hungary, USA, China and Tunisia
- Individuals: Kharlan (UKR), Gkountoura (GRE), Emura (JPN), Page (Canada), Hafez (EGY) and Chadalavada Anandha (IND)
Men’s Sabre
Going into the event Italy and Hungary had confirmed their qualification for the Games as top four teams with Germany also guaranteed a place. Russia led the race for the European place but France remained a threat. Again, the battle ended in the quarterfinals as Germany beat France to end their hopes. Having secured qualification, Russia went on to win the gold medal beating Germany in a very close final.
In the individual race, France’s Bolade Apithy retained his European place with Sandro Bazadze of Georgia taking the second spot.
The qualifiers for men’s sabre in full are:
- Teams: Korea, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Russia, Iran, USA and Egypt
- Individuals: Apithy (FRA), Bazadze (GEO), Ferjani (TUN), Gordon (CAN), Xu (CHN) and Yoshida (JPN)
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.
