Friday Preview (10/14/2005)

(See the Friday Preview.)

Photos by Alex Ripa.

Today saw the crowning of the Team Men's Sabre and Team Women's Epee World Championships.

Team Women's Epee

Top seeds Russia and Germany were both eliminated from the gold medal bout by their respective partners in the bracket, Hungary #5 and France #3. Canada, #4, stumbled against Hungary in a tough 26-25 match; the last touch was a toe-touch against Sherraine MacKay.

Germany beat Russia 26-22 for third place. The final between Hungary and France was tightly fought until round 8, when Maureen Nisima (France) scored 9 touches to Hajnalka Toth's 2. In the final round, an increasingly desperate Adrienn Hormay gave too many opportunities to French closer Laura Flessel-Colovic. When the dust settled, Hormay had scored 12 points -- but the French fencer had scored 15. The final score: 45-31 France.

Team USA met france early, going out 45-31. While fencing for placement, a 45-35 loss to the Ukraine placed them at #14.

Men's Sabre

Second-seed France took third in a thrilling match that included 10 touch run by Dmytro Boiko (Russia), and a desperate 9-touch run by Oleg Shturbabin (Russia) in the final round.

The great story of the night was the fight between Italy #1 and Russia #3. Pozdniakov once again takes MVP for the Russian team, scoring 26 touches while receiving 12. (The next highest scorer was Yakimenko with 10 scored and 14 received.) Pozdniakov took the strip against Italy's Luigi Tarantino for the final round, with the score standing at 36-40 in favor of Italy. Pozdniakov, in a thrilling bout that brought the audience to its feet, took the score to 44-44. In the final touch, Pozdniakov caught his opponent flat-footed, and took the final touch. Russia wins, 45-44.

Tomorrow, we fence the Team Men's Foil and the Team Women's Sabre.