Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan wins historic bout with Russian opponent
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Ukraine's Olga Kharlan (left) celebrates after defeating Russia's Anna Smirnova.
PHOTO: AFP
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MILAN – Ukrainian Olympic champion fencer Olga Kharlan was disqualified from the world championships on Thursday for not shaking hands after beating a Russian opponent in the first round.
Kharlan outduelled Anna Smirnova 15-7. The International Fencing Federation (FIE), like some sports federations, allows Russian and Belarusians to compete as neutrals without their national flag and anthem.
After the bout, Smirnova reached for a handshake, which is at least customary if not required in the sport.
Kharlan put out her sabre, either to acknowledge Smirnova (a practice allowed to replace a handshake during the pandemic, but not any more), to keep her distance from Smirnova or both.
Smirnova then spent about 50 minutes on the strip, half of it sitting in a chair, at times speaking with at least three different officials.
Officials gave Kharlan a “black card”, eliminating her from the individual competition. Smirnova did not advance too.
The FIE has not said why Kharlan was disqualified.
The bout happened hours after the Ukraine government changed a policy and gave the green light for its athletes to compete in Olympic qualifiers against individuals from Russia and Belarus participating in a neutral capacity.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian Igor Reizlin’s hopes of an epee title were dashed as he withdrew from his bout with Vadim Anokhin in line with his government’s then policy of barring athletes from facing Russians.
An FIE source told AFP the Tokyo Games bronze medallist had presented a medical certificate to justify his withdrawal.
A minor consolation for Reizlin is that the certificate safeguards the small number of qualifying points he has obtained for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Kharlan was livid with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the FIE
“How are Ukrainian athletes meant to feel when the IOC should be on our side and delivering justice but in fact they are doing things totally against us?” she told AFP earlier in July.
Ukraine’s judokas had pulled out of the world championships
“I am really proud of our tennis players and imagining myself in their place, playing or fencing against the people whose country is bombing and killing our compatriots,” said Kharlan.
“It must be very hard but you know you have to as it is a way of fighting, you are the fighter in your own way.”
Ukrainian tennis players have been playing Russians and Belarusians since the invasion, but as individuals not representing their country.
“They are right not to shake hands, I cannot imagine a scenario where I would,” added Kharlan. “We have different fronts, we also have sport which is about the fight and the struggle.” AFP
