Team China (center) wins the 24/25 Women's Team Sabre World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, on March 9, 2025.(Photo/International Fencing Federation)
(ECNS) -- Team China won the 24/25 Women's Team Sabre World Cup by defeating France in the final in Heraklion, Greece, on Sunday. The victory marks China's second World Cup team title in 14 years, following their 2011 London win.
Consisting of 26-year-old Fu Ying and three young athlets -- Rao Xueyi, Zhang Xinyi, and Wei Jiayi, -- all born after 2000, Team China defeated Italy by 45-36 in the quarterfinals, followed by a 45-40 victory over Ukraine, the Paris Olympics champion, and a 45-40 win against Korea, Paris Olympics runner-up, to reach the final.
In the final against powerhouse France, Fu secured an early lead in the first round. The score then alternated between both teams, and China entered the final round with a slight 39-40 deficit.
In the decisive final round, Rao delivered an outstanding performance, scoring four consecutive points to help the team secure a 45-42 victory.
Women's sabre was once a strong event for China, with the team having won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, they failed to secure a medal in this event at the following four Olympic Games and did not qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The victory has boosted the confidence of the Chinese women’s sabre team in preparation for the next Olympics.
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