Olha Kharlan becomes world champion

At the World Fencing Championship which lasted in Budapest from August 5 through 12, Olympic champion Olha Kharlan for the first time in her career won golden medal in a world individual championship. In semifinals the Ukrainian fencer pulled out victory over the champion of last year’s Olympic Games in London Korean Kim Jiyeon. Being only several points behind during the bout, Olha managed not only to even the score, but make a winning blow (15:14). The Ukrainian started the final bout with Russian Katerina Dyachenko quite confidently and was seven points ahead after the first half of the match. Although her rival later managed to catch up, the Ukrainian fencer turned out to be the strongest in the outcome.

It will be reminded that Olha Kharlan is a gold and bronze Olympic medalist, a winner of a gold medal, one bronze and six silver ones in world team championships, as well as numerous medals in continental competitions, including six gold ones.

Ukrainian fencer with foils Rostyslav Hertsyk will bring a bronze medal from Budapest. This is the first award won by our athletes in this kind of sport events in the past 13 years. The Ukrainian was superior during the first minutes of the semifinal bout with Russian Artur Akhmatuzin, but the arm trauma Hertsyk has received a month ago had its effect. As a result the Russian succeeded with the 15:10 victory.