**Women’s Foil at the 2009 World Fencing Championships**
**Definition**
The Women’s Foil event at the 2009 World Fencing Championships was a premier international fencing competition held in 2009, featuring the world’s top female foil fencers competing for the individual world title. This event showcased high-level skill, strategy, and athleticism in the foil discipline, one of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing.
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## Overview
The Women’s Foil competition at the 2009 World Fencing Championships took place as part of the annual global fencing tournament organized by the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE). The Championships were hosted in Antalya, Turkey, from September 30 to October 8, 2009. The Women’s Foil event attracted elite fencers from around the world, each vying for the prestigious title of World Champion.
Foil is one of the three weapons in fencing, characterized by its light and flexible blade, with points scored by hitting the opponent’s torso with the tip of the blade. The event followed a format combining preliminary pool rounds and direct elimination bouts, culminating in a final match to determine the gold medalist.
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## Event Format and Rules
### Competition Structure
The Women’s Foil event began with a qualification phase consisting of pool rounds, where fencers were divided into groups and fenced each other in bouts to five touches or a maximum of three minutes. The results from these pools were used to seed fencers into a direct elimination tableau.
The direct elimination phase featured bouts to 15 touches, divided into three periods of three minutes each, with one-minute breaks between periods. If neither fencer reached 15 touches by the end of the third period, the fencer with the higher score was declared the winner. In the event of a tie, a one-minute sudden-death priority minute was fenced.
### Scoring and Priority
In foil fencing, the target area is restricted to the torso, including the back but excluding the arms, neck, head, and legs. Points are scored only with the tip of the blade. The right-of-way rule applies, meaning that the fencer who initiates an attack first has priority to score. If both fencers land hits simultaneously, the point is awarded to the fencer with right-of-way.
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## Participants
The 2009 Women’s Foil competition featured a diverse field of fencers representing numerous countries, including traditional fencing powerhouses such as Italy, Russia, France, Germany, and the United States. Many of the participants were highly ranked in the FIE standings and had previous experience in World Championships and Olympic Games.
Notable competitors included:
– **Valentina Vezzali (Italy):** A multiple-time World and Olympic champion, known for her technical precision and tactical intelligence.
– **Margherita Granbassi (Italy):** A strong contender with a history of podium finishes in major international competitions.
– **Aida Shanaeva (Russia):** A rising star with a dynamic fencing style.
– **Nam Hyun-Hee (South Korea):** An accomplished fencer with a reputation for speed and agility.
– **Erin Joyner (USA):** Representing the United States with a solid international record.
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## Results
### Medalists
– **Gold:** Valentina Vezzali (Italy)
– **Silver:** Margherita Granbassi (Italy)
– **Bronze:** Aida Shanaeva (Russia) and Nam Hyun-Hee (South Korea)
### Final Match Summary
The final bout was an intense contest between two Italian teammates, Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi. Vezzali, known for her experience and tactical mastery, managed to control the pace of the match, using precise attacks and well-timed defensive actions to secure a 15-12 victory. The match demonstrated high technical skill and strategic depth, with both fencers exchanging rapid attacks and counterattacks.
### Semifinals and Bronze Medal Matches
The semifinals featured Vezzali against Nam Hyun-Hee and Granbassi against Aida Shanaeva. Both Italian fencers prevailed, setting up an all-Italian final. The losing semifinalists, Shanaeva and Nam, were both awarded bronze medals, as per FIE rules.
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## Significance and Impact
The 2009 Women’s Foil event reinforced Italy’s dominance in the discipline, with both finalists representing the country. Valentina Vezzali’s victory added to her illustrious career, further cementing her status as one of the greatest foil fencers in history.
The competition also highlighted the growing international diversity in women’s foil, with strong performances from fencers outside Europe, such as Nam Hyun-Hee from South Korea, signaling the sport’s expanding global reach.
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## Historical Context
The World Fencing Championships have been held annually since 1921, with the exception of years affected by World War II and Olympic years when the Championships are sometimes limited to non-Olympic events. Women’s foil has been a staple event since the early inclusion of women’s fencing in international competition.
Valentina Vezzali’s win in 2009 was part of a period of Italian dominance in women’s foil, which saw Italian fencers frequently atop the podium in both World Championships and Olympic Games throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.
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## Venue and Organization
The 2009 World Fencing Championships were hosted in Antalya, a city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The venue provided state-of-the-art facilities for the competition, including multiple pistes for simultaneous bouts, electronic scoring systems, and seating for spectators.
The event was organized under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE), the international governing body for fencing, which ensured adherence to international rules and standards.
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## Conclusion
The Women’s Foil event at the 2009 World Fencing Championships was a showcase of elite fencing talent, tactical sophistication, and international competition. Valentina Vezzali’s triumph underscored her exceptional skill and Italy’s strength in the discipline, while the diverse field of competitors highlighted the global nature of modern fencing.
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**Meta Description:**
The Women’s Foil competition at the 2009 World Fencing Championships featured top international fencers, culminating in Valentina Vezzali of Italy winning the gold medal. The event highlighted Italy’s dominance and the sport’s global reach.