The Hindu : Sport : England clinches overall championship

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 30, 2006

Sport

Sport

England clinches overall championship

Sports Reporter

— Photo: R. Ragu

HAPPY FACES: England team, which won the overall championship.

CHENNAI: England clinched the overall championship in the inaugural Commonwealth junior fencing championship, which concluded at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

With five gold, five silver and five bronze medals, England bagged the India Trophy, accumulating a total of 538 points. Australia (344) finished second, taking home three gold, three silver and three bronze. Scotland, with points tally of 340, came third.

Australia scored a thumping 45-36 win over England the men's foil team final while England emerged a deserving winner in the men's sabre team summit clash overcoming Scotland 45-31. Summing up England's performance, the chief coach Norman Golding said, "the prime reason for our good show has been our team spirit, it's been fantastic. All the fencers who took part (24) won a medal. It's been a good preparation for the World junior championship in South Korea in March."

Scotland, the weaker team, did its best to keep pace with England in the men's sabre till the fifth bout--with the scores reading 25-18 in favour of England. Anthony Crutchett took the contest away from Scotland with a near-flawless performance in the sixth round. The 17-year-old gave England gave the cushion to finish the contest without any trouble.

India's chief coach W. Voleshor Singh said he is satisfied with the team's performance (three bronze medals) given the fact that India is yet to have the best of facilities. The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Surjit Singh Barnala was the chief guest.

The results:

Men's team foil (final): Aus bt Eng 45-36; (semifinals): Aus bt Wales 44-35; Eng bt Scotland 45-29.

Men's team sabre (final): Eng bt Scot 45-31; (semifinals): Eng bt Wales 45-16; Scot bt Aus 45-28.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail