News / Sports

Iran sabre team climbs one place in world fencing rankings

Wednesday, 23 May 2018 8:14 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 23 May 2018 8:17 AM ]

The Iranian men's national sabre team (file photo)

The Iranian men's sabre team has jumped one place in the latest International Fencing Federation rankings of the world’s national sabre squads, moving within the top five in the overall standing.

According to the latest rankings released by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), Iran tallied 262 points and claimed the fourth place.

South Korea topped the rankings with 448 points, followed by Italy and Hungary with 340 and 304 points respectively in the second and third slots.

Russia occupied the fifth place with 260 points, while the United States is sixth with 254.

The two other Asian powerhouses, Japan and China, racked up 155 and 149 points respectively and landed in the 13th and 14th spots.

Iran's ascent comes after Iranian sabre fencer Mojtaba Abedini Shourmasti exhibited great skills and composure at the Moscow Sabre 2018, and earned a bronze medal at the international tournament.

The 32-year-old Iranian athlete vigorously overcame rivals from Italy, Germany, Hungary and South Korea to march into the semi-finals of the event at Ice Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow.

Abedini lost to South Korean contestant Oh Sanguk 9-15 in his last match, and got the bronze medal.

The Moscow Sabre 2018 kicked off on May 11, and closed on May 13, 2018.

Sabre is a light cutting and thrusting weapon in the sport of fencing. In the sabre section, the entire body above the waist, except the weapon hand, is targeted. Hits with the entire blade or point are valid. Touches that land outside of the target area are not scored.

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