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European Fencing Championships
Israeli fencer Noam Mills reached the highest point yet of her career yesterday as she captured the bronze medal in the European Fencing Championships in Leipzig, Germany
By Haaretz Sports Staff
Israeli fencer Noam Mills reached the highest point yet of her career
yesterday as she captured the bronze medal in the European Fencing Championships
in Leipzig, Germany.
Mills, who was competing in the epee category, recovered nicely in the tournament after losing two straight fencing bouts to begin the competition. She also improved upon her seventh place finish from last year's championships and maintained her position as one of Europe's top competitors, an encouraging sign for her 2012 Summer Olympics prospects.
Her most impressive result came in her Round of 32 duel against Anna Sivkova, the Russian gold medalist from the 2004 Olympics in Athens. After a close battle, Mills edged out Sivkova in the end, defeating her 12-10.
Mills was even more efficient against her next opponent in the Round of 16, Hungary's Dorina Budai. The Israeli won the bout 15-10.
In the quarterfinals, Mills was pitted against Italian fencer Francesca Quondamcarlo, who was no match for the Kfar Sava native. Mills routed Quondamcarlo by a score of 15-8. Awaiting Mills in the semifinal, however, was Germany's Imke Duplitzer, who would eventually go on to capture the gold medal.
Duplitzer crushed Mills by a 15-8 count, ending the Israeli's dream of a European title.
Other Israeli fencers struggle during the competition. Alona Komarov finished 41st and Dalia Strelnikov registered a 51st-place finish. A total of 74 fencers competed in the tournament. On the men's side, Tomer Or and Maor Hatuel reached the Round of 16 in the foil competition before bowing out.
"In the previous two years I was within one step of where I got to this year," an emotional Mills told the Israeli news portal Walla! after the medal ceremony. "I felt that this achievement was coming. I feel great, and I believe that this is something that can really push Israeli fencing forward."
Mills blamed a lack of concentration and her German opponent's home-crowd advantage for her semifinal fall, even after initially taking the lead.
"Duplitzer is an experienced fencer and there is no margin for error when facing her, but I'll learn from the loss and I hope to win the gold medal next time," she said.
Mills, 24, is entering her junior year at Harvard University. As a sophomore, she was captain of the women's fencing team. She has collected numerous awards throughout her collegiate career, including All-America first team, first-team All-Ivy League, and an Academic All-Ivy League.
In the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Mills advanced to the round of 32 in the women's individual epee. She is one of only two Harvard female fencers to ever qualify for the Olympics.
Mills, who was competing in the epee category, recovered nicely in the tournament after losing two straight fencing bouts to begin the competition. She also improved upon her seventh place finish from last year's championships and maintained her position as one of Europe's top competitors, an encouraging sign for her 2012 Summer Olympics prospects.
Her most impressive result came in her Round of 32 duel against Anna Sivkova, the Russian gold medalist from the 2004 Olympics in Athens. After a close battle, Mills edged out Sivkova in the end, defeating her 12-10.
Mills was even more efficient against her next opponent in the Round of 16, Hungary's Dorina Budai. The Israeli won the bout 15-10.
In the quarterfinals, Mills was pitted against Italian fencer Francesca Quondamcarlo, who was no match for the Kfar Sava native. Mills routed Quondamcarlo by a score of 15-8. Awaiting Mills in the semifinal, however, was Germany's Imke Duplitzer, who would eventually go on to capture the gold medal.
Duplitzer crushed Mills by a 15-8 count, ending the Israeli's dream of a European title.
Other Israeli fencers struggle during the competition. Alona Komarov finished 41st and Dalia Strelnikov registered a 51st-place finish. A total of 74 fencers competed in the tournament. On the men's side, Tomer Or and Maor Hatuel reached the Round of 16 in the foil competition before bowing out.
"In the previous two years I was within one step of where I got to this year," an emotional Mills told the Israeli news portal Walla! after the medal ceremony. "I felt that this achievement was coming. I feel great, and I believe that this is something that can really push Israeli fencing forward."
Mills blamed a lack of concentration and her German opponent's home-crowd advantage for her semifinal fall, even after initially taking the lead.
"Duplitzer is an experienced fencer and there is no margin for error when facing her, but I'll learn from the loss and I hope to win the gold medal next time," she said.
Mills, 24, is entering her junior year at Harvard University. As a sophomore, she was captain of the women's fencing team. She has collected numerous awards throughout her collegiate career, including All-America first team, first-team All-Ivy League, and an Academic All-Ivy League.
In the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Mills advanced to the round of 32 in the women's individual epee. She is one of only two Harvard female fencers to ever qualify for the Olympics.
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