Fencing

The European Fencing Championships are drawing to a close in Novi Sad, Serbia

Steliu Lambru, 20.06.2018, 13:17

The European Fencing Championships are underway in Novi Sad, Serbia. Romanian sabre fencer Bianca Pascu was outclassed by Russias Svetlana Seveleva in the quarterfinals, 15-12. We recall that in the qualifiers, Pascu had outperformed Spains Lucia Martin-Portugues and Olga Kharlan of Ukraine. Pascu walked away with bronze at the 2017 edition of the European Championships held in Tbilisi.

In the mens version of the sabre event, the Romanian Andrei Timoce was unable to move past the second round, having sustained a 15-11 defeat by Great Britains Harisson Nichols.

In the individual womens epee event, the Romanian Ana-Maria Popescu came in 6th. In the first round, Popescu defeated Alejandra Cisneros of Spain, 15-7. In the second round, Popescu outperformed Ksenia Panteleeva of Ukraine, 15-8. In the round of 16, Ana-Maria Popescu secured a 15-12 win against Italys Rossella Fiamingo. However, in the quarterfinals Popescu lost to Estonias Julia Beljajeva 9-15. We recall that in 2016 Popescu was an Olympic champion, as part of the Romanian team, in the nations competition.

Also in the individual womens epee event, Amalia Tătăran was 9th-placed, after being defeated in the round of 16 by Beljajeva, 10-15. Maria Udrea came in 10th, having lost the the round of 16 match to another Estonian fencer, Katrina Lehis, 6-15. Raluca Sbîrcia came in 35th.

In the individual womens foil event, representing Romania were four fencers: Mălina Călugăreanu, Maria Boldor, Anca Săveanu and Teodora Sîrbu. Romanias best result was provided by Anca Saveanu, who was 39th-placed in the final rankings. The other three fencers coached by Florin Gheorghe, Teodora Sirbu, Malina Calugareanu and Maria Boldor, were ranked 42nd, 44th and 47th, respectively.

In the individual mens sabre event, Tiberiu Dolniceanu came in 11th in the final rankings. The other three Romanian sabre fencers taking part in the event, Iulian Teodosiu, Alin Badea and George Dragomir, were 27th, 36th and 45th-placed, respectively.

(translated by: Eugen Nasta)