Elisa Di Francisca wins gold medal at 2011 European World Fencing Championships
It was the third day of the 2011 European World Fencing Championships in Sheffield when the World’s Number One ranked Foil fencers of the 2010-11 seasons, Elisa Di Francisca, won the gold medal in Women’s Foil Individual contest.
On the third day of the Sheffield Championships, two able-bodied events took place, including Women’s Foil and Men’s Foil contests. The Italian Valentina Vezzali finished her third day in Women’s Foil Individual with a silver medal. Both Italian fencers
started their day with the pool matches. Vezzali was undefeated during her six bouts of the pool matches, while Elisa advanced to the direct elimination table after five victories and one loss in the pool matches.
Out of total 41 Foil female athletes, 32 athletes qualified for the table matches. Vezzali started from the table of 32 as the number two seeded fencer, while Elisa started her table as the number five seeded athlete. Belgium’s Julie Groslambert was the
first contender for Elisa in the direct elimination table and she was eliminated by Elisa with an easy 15-4 touches. Elisa eliminated Arianna Errigo with the same score to qualify for the quarter-final round where she faced Hungarian Mohamed Aida.
The quarter-final bout with Aida was a stronger competition for Elisa. After a tough score of 15-12, Aida was beaten in the quarter-final and Elisa advanced to the semi-final bout. She defeated Russian Eugyenia Lamonova with 13-12 touches in the semi-final
round and reached the final bout. Elisa’s team-mate and Blue team-member, Vezzali, was Elisa’s final target in the play-off. They both played a strong bout and after nine minutes, Elisa was leading by 10-8.
Elisa got two rewards for that victory, firstly, she was honoured with the gold medal and secondly, she was given an amazing 48 points for Foil World rankings that will be validated soon. Vezzali was honoured with the silver medal.
Elisa said on her victory, "Today I did not shoot well but I helped the grit. I have another head, and this change has helped me to win the World Championships in Paris, in the World Cup, the Italians of Livorno and now here."
The coach, Stephen Wen, said, "Beyond the winner, this group always shows the great value in any competition. Today was a double but could be another trio like yesterday to the men. I'm sorry for Ilaria Salvatori and Arianna Errigo. However, even in this
test, we reaffirmed the supremacy."
The Blue squad is now ready for Women’s Foil Team that will take place after the Individual competitions are finished.
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