Paris 2024 Olympics: Sandro Bazadze fumes after men’s sabre exit – ‘For the second time the referees kill me’
Published 27/07/2024 at 23:58 GMT+1
Georgia’s Sandro Bazadze said “the referees kill me” after the world No. 1 fencer lost in the last 16 of the men’s sabre to Egypt’s Mohamed Amer in dramatic fashion. Late in the contest, Spanish referee Vanesa Chichon referred to the video and adjudged that Amer had got the touch to give him a 15-14 victory. Bazadze said his “career is finished” in the aftermath and vowed not to drop the matter.
Furious Bazadze screams at officials in wild end to fiery sabre clash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Georgia’s Sandro Bazadze aimed a furious rant at referee Vanesa Chichon after the world No. 1 fencer was eliminated in the last 16 of the men’s sabre at the Paris Olympics.
Bazadze refused to leave the piste after Chichon referred to the video and decided that Egypt’s Mohamed Amer had got the touch to secure a dramatic 15-14 victory.
That sparked ugly scenes as the Georgian, who turns 31 on Monday, left those inside the Grand Palais venue in no doubt as to the extent of his displeasure.
Boos rang out but Bazadze was not deterred. The two-time European champion, who also disputed his semi-final loss at the Tokyo 2020 Games, continued his protests, but Chichon was unmoved.
“For the second time, as in Tokyo, the referees kill me,” Bazadze said. “In Tokyo they destroyed my life, almost finished my career.
“But I came back and became first in the world and prepared for the Olympic Games, but she kills me.”
Bazadze was finally coaxed out of the arena but vowed to take the matter further.
“My career is finished, it is done,” he added. “How can I come back when referees are killing me all the time.
“She went and checked the video. I have trained for this for 21 years and she treats me like I am no one. When I asked her to explain she turns round and goes, ‘The Olympic Games... fairness, where is fairness?’
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“I was one of the favourites in Tokyo but went out in the semis - they kill me like now. Everyone check the video, I am not a kid, I understand this sport. Look at the video [and] you can say if I am wrong and judge me."
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