Zagunis 2nd in New York; Velikaia takes Gold

Sophia Velikaia (RUS) won her second world cup event of the season defeating Mariel Zagunis (USA) in the finals of the NYC World Cup.  Velikaia’s last world cup victory, in Moscow, was also over Zagunis.  This was a dominating victory for Velikaia who showed the Moscow result was not a fluke by defeating Zagunis 15-6 for the world cup victory.

In the top-8 Mariel Zagunis handled Anna Limbach (GER) 15-12 and followed up with a semi-final win over Bogna Jozwiak (POL) 15-9.

Ibtihaj Muhammad just missed out on a top-4 finish when Olga Kharlan (UKR) finished her off 15-14 in the top-8.  Kharlan went on to lose 15-14 to Velikaia in the semi-finals.

The US team fared well placing Zagunis and Ibtihaj Muhammad in the top-8.  The FIE points earned at the NYC World Cup count towards Olympic qualification and since women’s sabre will not feature a team event, individual points are the most important.  Before this event 4 US women, Zagunis, Muhammad, Dagmara Wozniak, and Daria Schneider, were all within 5 qualification points of each other for qualification.  The United States will be able to send a maximum of 2 women’s sabre fencers.

What this result did was put a good bit of separation for Zagunis and Muhammad.  (Wozniak took 12th and Schneider 28th).  The next results will come from the Pan American Regional event in July and the the World Championships in October.

For Velikaia this victory is her 11th consecutive top-8 finish and solidifies her position as the top Russian in the hunt for Olympic qualification.  Russia also placed 2 fencers in the top 8 as Ekaterina Diatchenko (RUS) finished 5th and Julia Gavrilova placed just outside the 8 at 9th.  As with the US, a maximum of 2 Russian fencers will make the London Olympics.

Also strong in this event was the Ukraine placing World Championship silver medalist Olga Kharlan at 3rd and Olena Khomrova 6th.

2011 NYC World Cup Final Results: Women’s Individual Sabre