Following from
Schermanet.it from a post by
Toni:
http://www.schermanet.it/modules.php...rticle&sid=835 FOIL OLYMPIC NIGHT
Last week in
Pordenone, NE Italy, an
"Olympic rematch" took place with the top women foil fencers between the
Italian team of
Valentina Vezzali, Margherita Granbassi, Elisa Di Francisca, and the
Rest of the World team of
Sylwia Gruchala, Aida Mohamed, and Indra Angad Gaur. This was the first time to see Valentina on the strip since her maternity leave and birth of her son Pietro June 9 of this year.
Three of the four finalists in Athens, August 18, 2004, met again last week. Not on the strip, because she is expecting and due in a couple of weeks, the fourth Athens finalist and silver medal,
Giovanna Trillini, who was there as a live sport commentator. This took place outdoors in the main town square with more than a thousand spectators.
The Italian team won 45-37 in a competitive bout which was slowed down only by few raindrops which made the strip slippery. Fortunately for the organizers the real rain interfered only with the award ceremony.
The team competition started with
Margherita Granbassi and
Indra Angar Daur (Holland) 5-2, followed by
Elisa Di Francisca and
Aida Mohamed (Hungary) 10-7. The next one was the most waited confrontation between
Valentina Vezzali and
Sylwia Gruchala (Poland). Last year in Athens Valentina defeated Gruchala in the semifinal, so this was the first opportunity for the two rivals to meet again on the strip. Gruchala who was always a difficult opponent for Valentina immediately pushed her to the end of the strip and Valentina responded with counterattacks but her usual speed wasn't there because of the wet strip. This fraction ended 15-14. The rest of the match continued with Italy leading to 40-32 and leaving to Granbassi the honor and onus to bring home the bacon.
Trillini was a lively and exciting sport commentator for the event.
After the bout, Valentina said,
"Even though I started fencing again only 20 days ago, I feel good about my progress."
The CT of the women's Italian foil team,
Andrea Magro, added,
"I really appreciate the quality of our girls this past year which could have been difficult for Italian women's foil because of the maternity leave of Valentina and Giovanna. Regardless, the good results of our girls continued. I also wanted to see Valentina on the strip for the first time since last year and tonight I saw in her eyes a sparkle which I know very well and makes me hopeful for the coming World Championship in Leipzig in October."
Hereunder the complete results (partials in parentheses) of the team bout:
1) Di Francisca - 4) Gruchala
2) Vezzali - 5) Mohamed
3) Granbassi - 6)Angad Gaur
3/6 Granbassi - Angad Gaur 5-2 (5-2)
1/5 Di Francisca - Mohamed 10-7 (5-5)
2/4 Vezzali - Gruchala 15-14 (5-9)
1/6 Di Francisca - Angad Gaur 20-15 (5-1)
3/4 Granbassi - Gruchala 25-21 (5-6)
2/5 Vezzali - Mohamed 30-25 (5-4)
1/4 Di Francisca - Gruchala 35-29 (5-4)
2/6 Vezzali - Angad Gaur 40-32 (5-3)
3/5 Granbassi - Mohamed 45-37 (5-5)
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