China’s women’s saber team made a triumphant return to the top of the podium, clinching gold at the International Fencing Federation (FIE) World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, on Sunday. This victory marks their first team gold at the event since 2011.
The dynamic squad, featuring 26-year-old Fu Ying alongside rising stars Rao Xueyi, Zhang Xinyi, and Wei Jiayi—all athletes born in the 2000s—showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament. After a first-round bye, China dominated Italy with a 45-36 win, then edged past the reigning Olympic champions Ukraine and silver medalists South Korea, both with a score of 45-40, securing their place in the final.
In the nail-biting final against France, Fu Ying established an early lead, but the match remained tightly contested. Trailing by one point heading into the final bout, 20-year-old Rao Xueyi delivered a stunning performance, scoring four consecutive points to seal a 45-42 victory for China.
“I’m incredibly happy to win the championship,” Rao shared after the match. “We faced tough opponents today, but we never gave up. Whether we were ahead or behind, we approached each point with seriousness.”
Rao, who earlier this season claimed individual gold at the Budapest Junior World Cup, also anchored China’s Asian Championship team title in 2023. Fu Ying echoed her teammate’s sentiments, saying, “We executed our preparations perfectly today. This gold reflects our collective dedication in training.”
The team’s resurgence is attributed to the guidance of French coach Cyril Verbrackel, who took the helm following frustrating results at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Under his leadership, the young team has found new momentum, blending experience and youth to climb back to the top.
With this victory, China’s women’s saber team has announced its return to the global stage, inspiring fans and promising an exciting future for the sport in the country.
