Double success for Russia at World Fencing Championships

The Russian men’s and women’s saber fencing teams have celebrated double success, both clinching gold at the World Championships in Paris.

The men’s squad, with Alexey Yakimenko, Veniamin Reshetnikov, Nikolai Kovalyov and Artem Zanin, collected a 45-41 win over the Italians in the finals.They were 4-15 down toward the beginning of the clash, but managed an impressive comeback.Meanwhile, the Russian ladies – Sophia Velikaya, Dina Galiakbarova, Julia Gavrilova, Svetlana Kormilitsyna – also scored a team victory on the night. They made an easy job out of Ukraine, cruising to a 45-33 victory to repeat their success of 2004.  Hosts France took the bronze after beating the Americans with a 45-35 scoreline.