Women fencers finish ninth

by HILLEL KUTTLER

ATLANTA (July 26) - The Israeli women's fencing defeated the US in the team competition at the Olympics yesterday after falling to China in the first round. The win over the Americans secured ninth place overall, exactly where Israel was seeded coming in.

Among other Israelis, Yoav Bruck was in the top half of finishers by swimming the 50m. freestyle in 23.22, good for 24th place overall, but not enough to advance. Russia's Alexander Popov, the 100m. winner, finished with a 22.22 and was to race for his second gold last night.

In 50m. free rifle prone shooting at Wolf Creek, Boris Polak scored 594 points to finish 20th and Guy Starik scored 593 for 26th place. Germany's Christian Klees won the gold with 704.08 overall after scoring 600 in the qualifying round.

In Savannah, Gal Friedman compete in the third day of windsurfing, along with Nir and Ron Chantal, and Anat Fabrikant and Shani Kedmi, on the second day of 470 sailing.

In the fifth round that took place yesterday, Friedman finished in tenth place. He had begun the day in fifth place overall, so in the sixth and final round, Friedman must show great improvement to have a possibility for earning a medal.

The sailing teams had a late start yesterday due to weather conditions, and no results were available as of midnight in Israel.

In defeating the Americans 45-39, Lilach Hatoel Zuckerman led a comeback from a 17-20 deficit by scoring eight of the next ten touches against Margaret Paxton.

"I gave them the inspiration to capitalize," Zuckerman said of the rally's effect on her team. "Generally, it's on me. When I didn't do well against the Chinese, we lost."

The Chinese team of Xiao Aihua, Wang Huifeng and Liang Jun defeated Zuckerman, Lilach Parisky and Ayelet Ohayon 45-29.

Israel had beaten China in last year's last World Championships to qualify for the Olympics fencing team competition for the first time ever. They also defeated China in the World Cup two months ago in Atlanta.

In the quarter-finals last night, Rumania upset Germany 45-33, and Italy beat Hungary 45-42.

Coach Chaim Hatoel said after the loss that cost Israel a chance to move into the quarter-finals that the team lacked fighting spirit and "didn't function mentally." The fencers said the match's 7:30 a.m. start threw them off and they were unable to recover.

Hatoel said the Chinese "fenced well," but the Israelis "couldn't overcome their depression after being knocked out of the individuals" on Monday.