Greece with six fencers in Plovdiv

Six Greek women, among them the top ones Despina Georgiadou (PAO) and Dora Goundura (AO Ariston Peanias)will compete between May 17-19 at Plovdiv, Bulgaria women’s saber world cup.

May will see the completion of the world cup and grand prix series in all weapons before the continental championships begin in June. The world’s top epee fencers will return two years later to Plovdiv for a world cup. In 2023, the Bulgarian city hosted the age group world championships (U17/U20) as well as the men’s/women’s European championships but stayed away from the major epee events, with Batumi, Georgia eventually taking over the event. This year 156 gymnasts will compete there and among them will be the best in the world. Only three will be missing from the top 30 of the world ranking, China’s Yaqi Shao (FIE No13), Uzbekistan’s Zainab Dagibekova (FIE No14) and Azera Ana Basta (FIE No28).

Despina Georgiadou (FIE No4) and Dora Goundoura (FIE No6) will compete with the blue and white, who, as in every competition in recent years, are claiming a place on the podium. Thanks to their positions in the world rankings, the two Greek women are guaranteed a place in the main draw of 64, which will be held on Saturday, May 17. One day before, in the qualifying round on Friday, May 16, four other Greek women will compete. Marina Paizi (AS Victoria), Athinais Mavrikaki (AO Aspida), Alina Kouroussi (AO Apollon Vrilission) and Anna Geronikou (AS Victoria) will claim one of the 48 available places that will complete the main board.

This will be the final competitive test before the men’s/women’s European championships in Basel (Switzerland) between June 18-23, while for Gundura the season will continue with the Paris Olympics. There will be no Greek presence in the team tournament on Sunday 18/5.

There will also be Greek participation in the men’s dueling sword world cup that will be held in Saint-Maur, France with 23-year-old Manolis Binihakis (AO Theseas Heraklion) who will compete in the qualifying round on Friday, May 16. In the world cup of women’s dueling swords in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, there will be no Greek presence on the track, but our country will be represented by the international referee Stathis Gerosideris, who received an invitation from the FIE.