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15.08.06
From national competitions to the World Cup series

"Golden Gate" International Fencing Tournament took place at the MFA of Ukraine's sports complex on 9 September. This was a remarkable and long waited event in the in-country sports activities, particularly considering that the International Fencing Federation's decided to include the "Golden Gate" Tournament in a World Cup circuit. (a "read more" hyperlink)

This is the path that the "Golden Gate" Fencing Tournament, which had a start at the CSC stadium in Kyiv on 9 September, has covered in 9 years. At that point the "Golden Gate" Tournament became the first round for the girls under 20 Epee World Cup. The previous tournament of this level took place in Ukraine 15 years ago in 1991.

The best world female fencers under 20 arrived at the capital of Ukraine. They were representatives of the following countries, which commonly demonstrate outstanding results in this sport: Sweden, Hungary, Israel, Germany, Russia, Estonia, Italy and Ukraine, certainly. In total they were 53 young female professionals accompanied by their coaches and chaperones.

There were also European fencing experts, sport analysts and mass media representatives attending the tournament. This event turned out to be worthy of the attention of so many experts.   

The "Golden Gate", which, the tournament organizers believe, symbolizes an advance toward the large scale sport, traditionally started with the anthem of Ukraine, which seemed to sound particularly triumphant this year. The official ceremonial part was followed by bouts. The initial selection rounds qualified 8 strongest competitors among the total of 53. They were the ones to demonstrate high-class fencing with everything in there: professionalism, logical strategy, refined tactics and even purely girls' ruse.  

The graciously moving girl fencers were so much like professional adult fencers that it was hard to believe one was watching just the cadets competing. This, in the long run, only adds to our confidence in the future of fencing, including the local fencing.

However, our girl fencers did not show the best results. Sasha Firsova, the strongest Ukrainian fencer, a more than once prize winner of Europe, only captured the third place sharing it with Emma Samuelson (Sweden). The Russian fencers Olena Shasharina and Yana Zvereva captured the first and the second places, accordingly.  

Thus, Maxym Paramonov, Executive Secretary of the Fencing Federation of Ukraine, has no sad feelings in this regard, being certain that the World Cup has settled in Ukraine for long. This is a major accomplishment, and in due time Ukrainian fencers will have their anticipations of gaining the gold fulfilled. In the end, the third place among 53 competitors from Sweden, Hungary, Israel, Germany, Russia, Estonia, Italy and Ukraine, for sure, makes a good result.  

A prize fund at the girls under 20 World Cup rounds would have been a nice attribute, but it's not a mandatory element, and the Kyiv tournament had none. Thus, the winner received two thousand dollars from sponsors of the competition, and the total prize fund constituted five thousand.  

An interesting thing is that the spirit of sports competition dominating during the bouts had no impact on communication of the girls from various countries. Many of them found new friends, and others acquired professional experience, which is so valuable considering their age.   

In the long run, the main accomplishment of the tournament is that it gathered dozens of young competitors and drew attention of the fencing world of Europe to the capital of Ukraine.  

"The challenge was in gaining the right to have a World Cup round in Kyiv,   says Vadym Gutzait, Chief Couch of the all-Ukrainian fencing team,   but it was justly that the International Fencing Federation granted this right to us. The thing is, our previous tournaments arranged under the title of the "Golden Gate" were professional and demonstrated high results. Therefore, the international Federation had basically no doubts in this regard".

The Tournament is over, and competitors and organizers have pleasant memories thereof: new victories, new acquaintances and new targets to reach. Still, thinking about another fencing World Cup round to take place in Kyiv next year doubles the pleasant sensations.

Finalists on the first play of the 2006 World Cup:

1. Olena Shasharina (Russia), b. in 1987   the 2006 Junior World Champion in team competitions. Number 7 (currently) in the world ranking.
2. Yana Zvereva (Russia), b. in 1989   the 2006 Cadet World Championship, 10th place.
3. Olexandra Firsova (Ukraine), b. in 1988   the 2004 Junior European Champion in team competitions, the 2005 European Championship bronze prize winner in team competitions.

1. Emma Samuelson (Sweden), b. in 1988   the 2006 Junior World Championship bronze winner in individual competition, the 2005 Junior European Champion in team competitions, number 1 in the world ranking.

1. Di Loretto Stephania (Italy), b. in 1988
2. Kateryna Blokhina (Ukraine), b. in 1989   the 2006 Junior World Championship silver prize winner in team competitions.
3. Yulia Nelyubova (Russia), b. in 1988 - the 2006 Junior World Champion in team competitions.
4. Kateryna Zhul'kova (Russia), b. in 1987.

12.09.07 - Young people STORM "GOLDEN gate"
11.09.07 - WONDERFUL MOMENT OF VICTORY
16.06.07 - Recent April lessons of the Ukrainian sword-women
13.04.07 - The World Championship within the "outstretched epee"
12.11.06 - The Sixth International Fencing Tournament in memory of the S. Y. Kolchinsky took place
15.08.06 - From national competitions to the World Cup series