2023-07-28 06:34:15
Fencing rules require a handshake at the end of the match.
Ukrainian player “Rules need to be changed to fit the changed world”
Ukraine’s Olga Harlan celebrates following beating Russia’s Anna Smirnova at the Fencing World Championships in Milan, Italy, on February 27, 2009. AFP Yonhap News
At the world fencing championships, a Ukrainian athlete refused to shake hands with a warring Russian athlete and was disqualified even following winning. According to foreign media such as (AFP) and (BBC) on the 27th (local time), Ukraine’s Olga Harlan and Russia’s Anna Smirnova met in the Saber Round of 64 at the Fencing World Championships held in Milan, Italy. The win or loss was 15-7 and returned to Harlan’s victory. Harlan is a leading Ukrainian fencing player who has won many international competitions. Russia has been subject to sanctions such as banning participation in various international sports events due to the invasion of Ukraine, but Smirnova competed as an individual member of a neutral country, not as a national representative. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) granted this qualification to 17 players from Russia in May.
Ukraine’s Olga Harlan, left, refuses to shake hands with Russia’s Anna Smirnova following her match at the Fencing World Championships in Milan, Italy. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva Twitter capture
Ukraine’s Olga Harlan, left, refuses to shake hands with Russia’s Anna Smirnova following her match at the Fencing World Championships in Milan, Italy. AFP Yonhap News
The problem arose following the game was over. After the match, Smirnova asked Harlan to shake hands, but Harlan held out her fencing sword and left the piste (fencing platform) without shaking hands. Smirnova sat for a long while in a chair on her piste, as if expressing her protest at the situation. The Guardian said Smirnova sat for 50 minutes. The rules of the International Fencing Federation specify that the two players should shake hands following the match results are out, but in the end, Harlan was disqualified following receiving a ‘black card’ (exit order) for unsportsmanlike behavior. Harlan told reporters at the scene that “the FIE president assured me that it is possible to touch the sword instead of shaking hands”. I’m not going to shake hands with them,” he said. Archyde.com said in a video that Harlan posted on his social network service (SNS) that day, “Today was a very difficult and very important day. What happened today raises a lot of questions,” he said. “I don’t want to shake hands with that player. So when he heard that he was disqualifying me, he screamed in pain.” “People need to understand that the rules have to change because the world is changing,” he said.
Russian Anna Smirnova sits on a chair at the fencing table to protest Ukrainian Olga Harlan’s refusal to shake hands. AFP Yonhap News
The Ukrainian government protested that the disqualification should be withdrawn. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva told X (X, old Twitter), “Harlan competed fairly and won. We urge the FIE to restore his rights and allow him to continue competing.” The Ukrainian Fencing Federation is also considering a response. Elina Svitolina, who previously refused to shake hands with players from Russia and Belarus at the ‘2023 Wimbledon Championships’, an international tennis tournament, said, “She did the right thing for the people,” and she did not support Harlan’s actions. told Reporter Seungjun Lee [email protected]
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