Ukrainian Harlan hugs Russian Bashta after fencing match at Olympics
Ukrainian sabre fencer Olha Kharlan hugged Azerbaijani representative Anna Bashta after the 1/8 final match at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The broadcast was on the tournament website.
The meeting ended with the Ukrainian winning 15:6. After that, she greeted Bashta, a native of the Russian city of Tolyatti.
In the summer of 2023, Kharlan refused to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova after the 1/32 finals match of the World Championship. The Ukrainian, who won, refused the obligatory gesture, but the Russian decided to wait for the handshake, without which, according to the regulations, the fight could not be considered completed. As a result, Smirnova left the platform without waiting for Kharlan, who was then disqualified.
The International Olympic Committee later cleared Harlan for the 2024 Games, and the International Fencing Federation lifted her suspension, allowing her to compete in the team event. The federation also eliminated mandatory handshakes after bouts.
Source: Lenta
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