The Canadian women’s epee fencing team kept itself in the running for an Olympic berth by finishing eighth in the Eximbank Cup Grand Prix in Budapest on Friday.
Sherraine MacKay of Brooks, Alta., scored the final touch against Italy’s Bianca Del Carretto with two seconds left in the final match between the two countries as Canada edged Italy 33-32. The Canadian team then lost to Hungary 54-29 in the round of 8.
There is one Olympic spot available for the Games in Athens from the American zone and the United States is hot on Canada’s heels. The U.S. finished 11th at this World Cup, so they will have to work very hard to catch up with Canada.
China defeated Hungary for gold and Germany took the bronze. Germany’s bronze guaranteed an Olympic sport for Germany.
Placement:
1) China
2) Hungary
3) Germany
4) Estonia
5) France
6) Ukraine
7) Korea
8) Canada
9) Russia
10) Italy
11) United States