Underdog Triumph in Greece
China’s women’s saber fencing team has sliced through the competition at the FIE World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, snagging their first team gold since 2011! The squad, led by 26-year-old Fu Ying and rising Gen-Z stars Rao Xueyi, Zhang Xinyi, and Wei Jiayi, proved youth is no barrier to glory.
Nail-Biter Final Against France
After breezing past Italy and edging out Paris 2024 Olympic champs Ukraine and silver medalists the Republic of Korea (ROK), the team faced France in a heart-stopping final. Trailing by one point in the last bout, 20-year-old Rao Xueyi channeled her inner action hero, scoring four clutch points for a 45-42 victory.
Stars on the Rise
“We fought like family today,” said Rao, who also bagged Junior World Cup gold earlier this year. Veteran Fu Ying added: “This medal isn’t just ours – it’s for everyone who believed in us.” The team’s comeback aligns with French coach Cyril Verbrackel’s strategies, fresh from his Tokyo 2021 Olympic silver win.
With three team members born post-2000 and a new coaching vision, China’s saber squad is clearly ready to duel its way into the spotlight.
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China win women's saber team title at FIE World Cup in Heraklion
cgtn.com