Russia and France Claim Fencing Medals in Sheffield

The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing European Championships continued in Sheffield, Great Britain, over the weekend with France and Russia enjoying notable success.

On Friday, France won three of the six medals available in the Men’s competition while on Saturday and Sunday Russia claimed half of all the medals up for grabs.

After winning the Men’s Sabre Category A on Thursday, Frenchman Ross Noble followed up his success on Friday claiming another gold, this time in the Men’s Epee Category A. Silver went to Italy’s Matteo Betti and bronze to Poland’s Dariusz Pender.

The Men’s Epee Category A was won by Nikolai Bezyazychny of the Belarus. He beat the French duo of Maxime Valet and Marc Catere into silver and bronze respectively.

Hungary’s Zsuzanna Krajnyck claimed her second gold of the Championships with victory in the Women’s Epee Category A. In the final she beat Russia’s Yuliya Efimova. Poland’s Marta Fidrych went home with bronze.

Ludmila Vasilueva claimed gold for Russia by beating Poland’s Marta Makowska in the final of the Women’s Epee Category B. Bronze went to France’s Simone Briese-Buetke.

Russia had an impressive day on Saturday claiming four of the six medals available to win.

They claimed gold, silver and bronze through Alexander Logutenko, Nikolay Lukiyanov and Sergey Barinov in the Men’s Foil Category C and also picked up bronze in the Men’s Wheelchair Sabre Team competition. Gold in that event went to France, with Poland taking the silver.

Russia continued their good form on Sunday taking gold in the Men’s Foil Team event. Ukraine took the silver and Italy the bronze.

In the final event of the weekend Hungary took gold in the Women’s Foil Team Category A and B beating off France and Russia into silver and bronze respectively.

Monday will see two gold medals up for grabs in the Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Epee Team events.

Until 19 July spectators in Sheffield will be able to watch Wheelchair and able-bodied Fencing action in what is the biggest Fencing event ever to take place in Great Britain.

More than 30 delegations have entered the event and 200 volunteers have registered to support the Local Organizing Committee.