Women’s Epee World Cup 2011 to begin today in Barcelona – Fencing update
The 35th International World Cup 2011 named "Ciutat de Barcelona" will take place from 11 to 13 March. The Ladies Epee matches at Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Barcelona, will be taking place for the seventh consecutive
year at the same venue.
INEFC is famous for being the hereditary spot of the 1992 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were played in Barcelona, Spain. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has a grade A ranking to this historic competition. Several fencing and other associative
bodies have collaborated with the Real Federación Española de Esgrima to organize the event. Last year, a total of 135 fencers from 32 different countries participated in the competition.
The Ciutat de Barcelona originated in the 1960’s, with a working body in Barcelona that used to organize various epee competitions during the festivities of “La Mercè”, which is an important celebration in the city. This festival was organized along with
the "Torneig Internacional Nostre Senyora de la Mercè". During the 1970’s, it continued to feature the both the epee and foil events together or separately in the competition, where it began to be called the Ciutat de Barcelona.
From 1982 the competition continued to rise in recognition even though disputes concerning the international foil competitions were wide spread. Finally in 1986 Ciutat de Barcelona returned to its foundations in the men’s epee in its 10th edition.
Here it began to steadily grow with an increasing level of involvement of elite fencers in the event. Then in 1989, in its 14th international trophy named the "XIV Trofeu Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona", the FIE granted the event a status of
World Cup and it became one of the most renowned competitions in the world cup.
From thereon, the world’s best epeeists have fenced at this occasion. Moreover, a few of the top performers in this competition turned out to become the top ranked fencers in the world. The Olympic Champions, World Champions and World Cup conquerors of the
previous two decades have all taken part in the recent editions of this prestigious competition.
From the United States a total of twelve female epeeists have been registered to appear in the 35th episode of the competition. These include the very skillful Lindsay Campbell who will be accompanied by Francesca Bassa, Holly Buechel, Danielle
Henderson, Hurley Kelley, Maya Lawrence, Eleanor Leighton, Ashley Severson, Susannah Scanlan and Jessica O’ Neill-Lyublinsky.
The competition schedule states that 11 March will feature the weapon control, referee meeting and pool matches. The following day, on 12 March the event will continue to proceed from Top 64 until the final 8. Then the last day will include the semi-final
and final along with the position-decider bouts.
The three-day World Cup will conclude with the prize distribution ceremony on the final day.
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