{mosimage}ATHENS, 13 August – The World’s number one and two are the top favourites for the opening event of the Olympic Fencing tournament.
Vladimir LUKASHENKO (UKR) and Stanislav POZDNIAKOV (RUS) will both fight for one of the first gold medals at the 2004 Games. LUKASHENKO is the current World Champion, POZDNIAKOV won in 2001 and 2002 the World Championships.
There will be some other fencers challenging them. For example, Sydney 2000 gold medallist Mihai COVALIU (ROM), currently number three in the FIE (International Fencing Federation) World Ranking, will do his best to defend his Olympic title.
Sydney 2000 bronze medal winner Wiradech KOTHNY (THA), is taking part but this time he will be under the flag of his native country, Thailand. At the Sydney 2000 Games, he was competing for Germany, the country where he grew up. He went back to his home country to study and increase the interest of Fencing in Thailand. His opening bout on Saturday, 14 August, will be against Fernando MEDINA (ESP).
The French and Italian sabre fencers also bare watching.
Julien PILLET (FRA), won the silver medal at the World Championships in 2001 and 2002. He and the two TOUYA brothers, Gael and Damien from France could challenge the top favourites.
Participation of Greek fencers starts with Jason DOURAKOS who faces Hanming ZHOU of China and his Greek teammate Constatine MANETAS faces Mashasi NAGARA of Japan while Marios BASMATZIAN with take on Raouf Salim BERNAOUI (ALG).
The Men’s Sabre event at the Olympic Games will be a new experience for Sorel-Arthur KEMBE (CGO). He qualified through the continental qualification and it’s his first appearence at the Olympic Games. His first bout against Candido Alberto AMAYA CAMEJO (CUB) will not be easy, but whoever wins that, will have to do more than just the best against Serguei CHARIKOV (RUS) – current number four in the world.