Hungary has secured its fourth fencing medal of the Rio Games on the last day of competition yesterday as the national male épée team, led by veteran fencer Géza Imre, were awarded the bronze medal.
The match started off slow as neither side scored any points in the first two periods. Hungary went up 8-5 in the fourth behind a 6 point effort from the 41-year-old Imre.
Ukraine fencer Dmytro Karyuchenko suffered a hand injury in that bout with Imre and did not return. He was replaced by alternate Maksym Khvorost. Imre scored 11 points in the seventh period but Anatolii Herey kept pace to put Ukraine within two points.
The Ukrainians trailed by five points heading into the ninth period as veteran fencer Bogdan Nikishin hoped to outduel Rédl – Nikishin scored seven consecutive points to narrow Hungary’s lead to one point with just seconds remaining in the bout. Taking advantage of Nikishin’s necessary aggressiveness, Rédli scored consecutive touches. With one second left on the clock, all Rédli had to do was run to the back of the piste to ensure Hungary’s 39-37 victory.
Previously, the Hungarian male fencing épée had narrowly defeated South Korea 45-42 but was later defeated by France 45:40, leaving the bronze medal up for contest with Ukraine.
This is Imre’s second medal in Rio. He won silver in the individual epee after 20-year-old South Korean Sangyoung Park stunned the veteran in a come-from-behind win.
via mandiner.hu and nbcolympics.com
photo: nemzetisport.hu