RUSSIAN FENCERS PICK SILVER IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

MOSCOW, MARCH 22, 2004. (RIA NOVOSTI) - The Russian women's fencing squad has earned a silver medal in a World Cup qualifying event, the Moscow Saber, losing the finals to the US team, 45-50. The bronze went to the Chinese. Head coach Dmitri Ronzhin told RIA that Russia was also second overall.

Russian, American, Hungarian and Chinese fencers will be competing for the 2004 world championship in the United States in June.

Yesterday, Russian women fencers also won two medals in an individual event. Yelena Nechaeva picked up the gold after winning a final match against teammate Sofia Velikaya.

The International Fencing Federation, known by its French acronym, FIE, ranks the Moscow Saber as the World Cup's most prestigious qualifying tournament. This time around, the event brought together fencers from 21 countries across the world.

The 2004 Summer Olympics will involve an individual women's saber competition. It can now be said with certainty that the Russian squad will include Nechaeva. Other Russian fencers to be sent to Athens will be selected in the forthcoming Olympic qualifiers.