KRAKOW – The fifth place of the saber Gigi Samele, who remained at the foot of the podium for just one hit, was the best Italian result on the opening day of the fencing program at the European Games in Krakow 2023. The continental event in Poland, which in the Team events will put important points up for grabs for the Olympic Qualification in Paris 2024, was opened today by the individual competitions of men’s saber and women’s foil, where instead the only Italian involved, Erica Cipressa, finished 13th.
A close medal for Samele, beaten 15-14 in the quarterfinals by the British Deary. Seeded number 2 in the draw, thanks to six victories in as many bouts in the group stage, the reigning Olympic silver medalist overcame two “landlords” standard-bearers from Poland, first Szczepanik with a score of 15-12, and then Hryciuk, beaten 15-6. Samele thus came to play the match for the podium against Deary, giving up only in the last jab after a long lead assault. “It was a test in view of the team competition, which is the most important for us – commented the captain of the blue sabers -. I’m sorry for missing the medal which I came very close to, but the goal for me and my team mates is Wednesday”.
Round of 32 fatal for the other Italian athletes of the men’s saber. Michele Gallo, after an en plein of victories in the group stage (5 wins), restarted from seed number 6 but stopped in the presence of the Polish Kaczkowski who prevailed 15-12. Even Luca Curatoli, after a good group with 5 wins and one defeat, lost on the same threshold with a score of 15-8 to the Ukrainian Yagodka. Finally Matteo Neri, 3 victories and 2 defeats in the group stage, made his debut in the direct elimination bracket already in the round of 64, beating the Turkish Aslan 15-10, then the stop with a score of 15-6 against the German Bonah.
Instead, Erica Cipressa’s match finished in the round of 16, the only Italian on the platform in the individual women’s foil. With five victories and only one defeat in the group stage, the Venetian foil player entered the direct elimination table as seed number 6. In the round of 32, Cipressa overcame the first hurdle, represented by the British Tsang, winning 15-13 , after a match that was always conducted but returned to balance in the closing stages, before the draw with the last two hits. In the round of 16, however, came the 15-9 defeat against the Israeli Kuritzky, then bronze medalist, which forced Erica Cipressa to finish in 13th place. “Something was missing from the point of view of mental strength, my opponent was better at managing the assault and the regret for not finishing in the podium area is certainly great. But sport is also this”, said the blue foil player.
Tomorrow, on the second day of the European Games in Krakow, the individual competitions of men’s foil and women’s epee are scheduled. For Italy, which in both specialties focused its attention on the Team Trials (on 29 June), only one representative was on the platform, determined to assert himself: the foil fencer Davide Filippi.
EUROPEAN GAMES 2023 – INDIVIDUAL MEN’S SABER | Krakow (Pol), 25 June 2023
Live results here
Quarter finals
Deary (Gbr) b. Samel (ITA) 15-14
Round of 16
Samele (ITA) b. Hryciuk (Poland) 15-6
32 game board
Yagodka (Ukr) b. Curatoli (ITA) 15-8
Kaczkowski (Paul) b. Rooster (ITA) 15-12
Bonah (Ger) b. Neri (ITA) 15-6
Samele (ITA) b. Szczepanik (Pol) 15-12
64 game board
Neri (ITA) b. Aslan (Tour) 15-10
Group stage
Luigi Samele: 6 wins, no losses (2nd after group stage)
Michele Gallo: 5 wins, no losses (6th after group stage)
Luca Curatoli: 5 wins, 1 loss (9th after group stage)
Matteo Neri: 3 wins, 2 losses (26th after group stage)
Ranking (59): 1. Sandro Bazadze (Geo), 2. Krzysztof Kaczkowski (Pol), 3. Aaron Szilagyi (Hun), 3. William Deary (Gbr), 5. Luigi Samele (ITA), 17. Michele Gallo (ITA), Luca Curatoli (ITA), 27. Matteo Neri (ITA).
EUROPEAN GAMES 2023 – INDIVIDUAL WOMEN’S FOIL | Krakow (Pol), 25 June 2023
Live results here
Round of 16
Kuritzky (Isr) b. Cipressa (ITA) 15-9
32 game board
Cypress (ITA) b. Tsang (GBR) 15-13
Group stage
Erica Cipressa: 5 wins, 1 loss (6th after group stage)
Ranking (49): 1. Julia Walzyk Klimaszyk (Pol), 2. Flora Pasztor (Hun), 3. Malina Calugareanu (Rou), 3. Gili Kuritzky (Isr); 13. Erica Cipressa (ITA).
HERE THE EUROPEAN GAMES TV LINK
The final phases can be viewed on ItaliaTeam TV, CONI’s OTT platform.
(Bizzi / EFC photo)
