Putin on a present: Russian president hails ladies’s group sabre for ‘stunning & convincing’ win after beating France to Olympic gold

President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the Russian sabre group after they stormed to gold on the Tokyo Olympics, whereas star Sofia Pozdniakova is celebrating transferring midway in the direction of her illustrious father’s gold medal haul.

There was extra glory for Russia’s formidable fencers on the Video games on Saturday, with high trio Olga Nikitina, Sofia Velikaya and Sofia Pozdniakova beating France 45-41 within the ladies’s group sabre last to safe the newest medals gained by Russian athletes.

Maybe unsurprisingly, the title holders had been favorites due to the involvement of Pozdnyakova and Velikaya – finalists within the particular person fencing competitors, which Pozdnyakova gained – and Olga Nikitina, who confirmed her class to decisive impact to make sure she gained her debut title.

In addition to their medals, the champions’ quick reward was a message from the Kremlin. “I sincerely congratulate you and the whole teaching employees on a good looking and convincing victory… you carried out nicely and demonstrated glorious preparation, a agency mindset for achievement, ability and give attention to the end result,” learn the glowing verdict.

“They’ve deservedly gained a formidable variety of awards of the very best normal. With their brilliant, spectacular, polished performances, they reaffirmed the undisputed management of the nationwide faculty of fencing.”

Pozdniakova’s father, Stanislav, gained his first fencing gold within the group occasion on the Barcelona Video games in 1992, including the person crown in Atlanta in 1996, the place he additionally captured a group title that he efficiently defended in 2000.

Father and daughter had been seen embracing in a transferring video following her particular person fencing triumph, and the 24-year-old has loads of time to proceed chasing the report held by the person who’s on the Video games in his capability because the President of the Russian Olympic Committee.

“Time will inform when I’ve 4 gold medals,” Pozdniakova instructed Championat. “Once I arrived right here, I didn’t set myself the duty of successful in particular person competitions and combating for gold in group competitions.

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“That is sport – don’t speak about your plans. I used to be excited about taking a break however the World Championship in Egypt might be in a 12 months, so we’ll see.

“Now we have our personal motto: ‘Collectively as one, collectively we’ll win’. It is a very previous motto, made earlier than even our era. Since it really works, we determined to not change it.

“It’s totally cool to be on the rostrum together with your teammates… there have been tears and feelings with the group.

“This medal issues not solely the three of us, but in addition our complete group, which has been working [on this] for 5 years.”

Moscow-born former title winner Svetlana Sheveleva was a kind of necessary group members, appearing as a backup to the victorious three.

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