Triple gold for Russia at wheelchair fencing European Championships

Russian fencers dominated the podium at the 2018 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing European Championships in Terni, Italy, on Friday.

In the women’s foil category C, world champion Ksenia Ovsyannikova retained her European title.

Ovsyannikova proved too much for Ukraine’s Hanna Pashkova to handle in the final, pulling away for a 15-10 final score.

Germany’s Ulrike Lotz-Lange joined Italy’s Nora Conseulo in bronze medal position.

Russia also claimed both of the team golds on offer on Friday in the women’s epee and men’s foil.

Ludmila Vasileva, Alena Evdokimova, Iuliia Maya and Viktoria Boykova, the new epee category B European champion, overcame Ukraine in the women’s epee final.

After gaining a 20-12 point advantage in the sixth assault, Russia managed to pull away further to finish with a 45-32 win.

The Ukrainian team of Nataliia Mandryk, Olena Fedota, Yevheniia Breus and Tetiana Pozniak took a well deserved silver.

Belarus claimed bronze courtesy of Alesia Makrytskaya, Kristina Fiaklistava, Aliona Halkina and Anastasiya Kastsiuchkova.

In the men’s foil Russia landed in the final after beating world champions Italy in the semi-final, 45-43.

They faced France for gold and the match was close until the third assault when Russia once again pulled away. The final score was 45-24.

Artur Yusopov, Nikita Nagaev, Albert Kamalov and Roman Fedyaev stepped onto top of the podium for Russia.

Maxime Valet, Ludovic Lemoine, Damien Tokatlian and Moez El Assine claimed France’s silver.

Poland’s Rafal Ziomek, Dariusz Pender, Jacek Gaworski and Michal Nalewajek rounded off the top three.

Ukraine’s Serhii Shavkun emerged the victor in the men’s epee category C.

After finishing second in 2016, Shavkun went on to add the European gold to his World Championships title.

Shavkun beat Latvia’s Dmitrijs Valainis 15-5 to secure the win. Italy’s Martino Seravalli was third alongside Hungary’s Zsolt Szarvas.

The 2018 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing European Championships run until 23 September.

Results are available here. More information about the Championships is available on the official website.

Terni 2018 is the second major regional Championships taking place this year. The recently concluded Americas Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, from 14-16 September, were the first.

Following the Europeans, the Asian Championships will take place as part of the Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 6-10 October.