FIE Women's Sabre World Cup: Home favourites fall short in host-nation Tunisia

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Europe

02:29

Despite hosting this year's FIE Sabre World Cup for the third year in a row, Tunisia's female fencers endured a disappointing event, losing out to Russian, Chinese and Italian athletes. Not trying to stick the knife in anymore is CGTN's Adnen Chaouchi who has this report.

The city of Gammarth in the North of Tunis hosted Women's Sabre World Cup. The International tournament brought together the world's best fencers from 5 continents.

ZAYDA DOGHRI TUNISIAN FENCING FEDERATION PRESIDENT "This is the 3rd edition organized by Tunisia following the successful tournaments in 2017 and 2018. This international tournament is very important because the world's best athletes and teams have gathered in Tunis."

MEHREZ BOUSSAYENE TUNISIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT "All participants are among the 30th top fencers in the world. Tunisian Champion Azza Besbess was unlucky this time. Despite the lack of resources, Tunisia has successfully organized the fencing world cup."

The 34 year old Russian athlete Sofya Velikaya won the gold medal. She relied on her long international experience to defeat younger adversaries.

SOFYA VELIKAYA SABRE GOLD MEDALLIST "This feeling is fantastic. For me, it's something amazing. I have big pleasure for coming number one in the competition. Today, was not an easy day and everybody with whom I fenced was so strong."

Chinese fencer Qian Jiarui showed a good performance. The silver medalist came ahead of Italian champion Irene Vecchi.

QIAN JIARUI SABRE SILVER MEDALLIST "In the 1st match, I did not do very good but then I started gaining confidence. I thank all the fencer today. Everybody did a good job."

IRENE VECCHI SABRE BRONZE MEDALLIST "Today, I fenced very well. It was very hard because at the beginning, winning by one touch so It's hard day but the ending was wonderful."

ADNEN CHAOUACHI TUNIS "185 fencers representing 39 countries took part in this Women's Sabre World Cup in Tunisia with their technical, medical and administrative staffs. This world cup is the first qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympic Games in the women's sabre category. AC. CGTN. T."