Sixth Georgiadou, ninth Gundura in “Acropolis”

Dora Goundoura and Despina Georgiadou were the two Greek entries in the main board of “64” of the “Acropolis” World Sword Cup. Gundura started with a victory on the board of “64” against Azera Valeria Bolsakova with 15-12 and prevailed in her second match against Hungarian Luka Suks (FIE No49) with 15-10, securing a place in the best 16 of the tournament.

In the battle for entry into the eight, she was defeated in the last and decisive point with 15-14 by Sara Nutsa (FIE No58) and completed her presence in the event with the ninth place. Thanasis Delenika recorded yet another top ten finish at a world level event and added 8 points to her Olympic and world ranking tally.

In her first match, Georgiadou defeated the Kazakh Karina Dospai (FIE No. 138) with 15-10, and then prevailed with 15-6 against the French Mathilde Mourou (FIE No. 70). In the battle of the table of “16” she faced the experienced French Cecilia Berder (FIE No23) for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition and with very nice fencing she won 15-8.

In the crucial match for entering the podium, Christos Saini’s athlete took her place on the track against her fellow athlete at Christian Bauer’s academy, the French Manon Apiti-Brunet (FIE No4). Although she put up a great fight, she was ultimately defeated 15-11 and finished sixth in the event, securing 14 points for the Olympic and world rankings.

For one more year, the world of fencing fans came to support the two Greek women, as a result of which “a pin did not fall” in the spectator area next to the tracks where they were playing. Among the spectators was the president of the World Fencing Federation and founder of “Acropolis” as former president of EOX, Emmanuel Katsiadakis, as well as the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Kapralos.

The winner of the World Cup was the French Sarah Balzer, who is ranked No. 1 in the world, who defeated the Spanish Luthia Martin-Portuguese (FIE No. 7) 15-8. The two gymnasts in the semi-finals eliminated with a score of 15-14 the French Manon Apiti-Brunet and the Ukrainian Olga Karlan (FIE No5) respectively, who climbed together to the third step of the podium.

The awards were made by Mr. Katsiadakis, the president of EOX, Ioannis Lignos, but also Vadim Gutsait, president of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee who was present at the event.

The women’s final was refereed by the Greek referee of the Olympic Games, Andreas Douvis, who will also be in Paris this summer.

The competitive action is not over, however, as the quartet of Dora Goundoura, Despina Georgiadou, Marina Paizis and Athenaida Mavrikakis will compete in the team game on Sunday. In their first game in the group of 32, they will face Kazakhstan.

Here is the top ten of the individual:

1. Sarah Balzer (France)

2. Luthia Martin Portuguese (Spain)

3. Manon Apiti Brunet (France)

4. Olga Karlan (Ukraine)

5. Misaki Emura (Japan)

6. Despina Georgiadou (Greece)

7. Sarah Nutsa (France)

8. Michela Battiston (Italy)

9. Dora Goundura (Greece)

10. Yaki Shao (China)