Sport and Friendship

Sunday was the women’s day of competition in the European Military Fencing Championship.

Hanna Saar from the Swedish bronze medal team. Photo: Johnny Edqvist/Försvarsmakten
Sevda Varol enjoyed the championships.
Sevda Varol enjoyed the championships. Photo: Johnny Edqvist/Försvarsmakten
World number one, Ana-Maria Branza, in action.
World number one, Ana-Maria Branza, in action. Photo: Johnny Edqvist/Försvarsmakten
Sevda Varol enjoyed the championships. Photo: Johnny Edqvist/Försvarsmakten
World number one, Ana-Maria Branza, in action. Photo: Johnny Edqvist/Försvarsmakten

World number one, Ana-Maria Branza from Romania was clearly bothered by a wrist injury during the women’s competition. But she did not let that stop her.
"I am all right so far, but if I have to, I will fence with my right hand", left-handed Branza said.
She never had to. Without a single match lost, she won the championship individually and was of course a big reason why team Romania also won the gold.

For the women it has been a couple of days of waiting since the men’s competition started off first.
"We come well prepared. And maybe these extra days made me a bit too eager during the first matches against Canada", said Sweden’s Hanna Saar.
The women’s team from Turkey explained that the days without any matches actually had been a lot of fun.
"We have been visiting the amusement park Liseberg", Sevda Varol said.
"My favourite was the rollercoaster 'Cannon'! Also we went bowling with the Canadian team."
"Today we will continue to have fun and do our best on the pistes. But most important is that we have made lots of new friends here."

Top 3 Teams, Women’s Épée.

Gold: Romania
Silver: Ukraine
Bronze: Sweden

Top 3 fencers, Women’s Épée.

Gold: Ana-Maria Branza, Romania
Silver: Anca Maroiu, Romania
Bronze: Jelena Rublevska, Latvia