Fascinating men’s team sabre ties in prospect at World Championships

Hungary will come up against Germany after winning their match in the last 16 for the fifth time in a row at the World Championships.

They defeated Spain 45-29 in the last 16 to qualify for the quarter-finals and will be hoping they can a stage further than last year when they lost 45-36 against Russia in the quarterfinals.

For their part, Germany defeated Great Britain 45-35 in the last 16, in a repeat of their meeting last year in the Last 16 which the Germans also won by a 45-28 scoreline.

They have now reached the quarterfinals for the sixth time in a row but went one better than the Hungarians last year when winning their quarter-final match 45-40 against USA, who this time around made it into the last eight..

The Americans proved too strong for Japan in the last 16 thanks to a 45-24 scoreline to make the quarter-finals for the fifth successive time. Having lost on the last four occasions, they will be hoping for better fortunes when they face Iran.

Iran defeated France 45-41 in the last 16 to hand the French their first elimination at this stage since losing 45-40 against Hungary in 2013.

Iran be looking to exact revenge on the USA after losing out to 45-38 last year in the last 16.

Russia will face Korea in the quarterfinals, the team they beat in the last eight in 2010 on their way to the world title.

The Russians accounted for Georgia 45-37 in the last 16 to qualify for the quarter-finals and and have now reached this stage in each of the last ten World Championships.

Korea Republic defeated Belarus 45-28 in the last 16 for their fourth consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals and will be looking to go one better than last year when they narrowly lost 45-44 against France.

Italy and Romania will make up the final quarter-final.

The Italians defeated Argentina 45-26 to make their 12th successive last eight appearance at the World Championships.
Romania progressed at the expense of China by a 45-36 scoreline to reach the quarter-finals in each of the last seven World Championships. However they have failed to reach the semi-final stages in each of the last two World Championships.

Italy against Romania is also a repeat of their meeting last year in the quarterfinals which the Italians won 45-32 on their way to the title.
Fencing World Championships, Rio de Janeiro
Men’s team sabre – Quarter-Finals

Hungary v Germany
Iran v USA
Russia v Korea Republic
Italy v Romania