Ukraine's Kharlan keen to fence against Russians | The Express Tribune
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PARIS: Ukraine fencing great Olha Kharlan believes she and her team-mates should be allowed to compete in individual events and carry the fight to the Russians on "all fronts", she has told AFP. The 32-year-old quadruple world sabre individual champion is angry at the Russian invasion of her country and concerned for her family – her father has slept in the bomb shelter in Nikolayev for the past year, telling her "it is better to stay here." Kharlan is furious with the IOC and the International Fencing Federation (FIE) for permitting Russians and their allies Belarus to compete again, albeit as neutral athletes. But she also strongly takes issue with the Ukrainian government barring its athletes from taking on the Russians individual events. "(IOC President Thomas Bach) keeps saying the IOC and international federations have to give hope to everyone," said Kharlan. "But how many chances do we have to give the Russians? The war is n