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China Reigns in Men's and Women's Team Foil
China Reigns in Men's and Women's Team Foil
Chinese men and women fencers proved their ability to fight European rivals in fencing competition at the 21st World University Games.
After revenging itself on France, to which China lost by one point in men's team foil at Sydney Olympics, in the semi-final, China was confronted with Italy, which defeated South Korea in another semi-final.
Wang Haibin, China's top fencer and silver medalist of team foil at Sydney Olympics, stopped his unfortunate run during the Olympics and gained 12 points for the Chinese team in the final competition with Italy, consisting of the world No. 2 Salvatore Sanzo, Simone Vanni, Marco Ramacci and Lorenzo Mammi.
Dong Zhaozhi, who gained the title of men's individual foil at the universiade, played a pillar role in the team final, winning 17 points against the Italian side.
China Reigns in Men's and Women's Team Foil
China's fledgling Zhang Jie and Zhou Rui also showed their skillfulness when fighting outstanding fencers such as Sanzo and Mammi.
The Chinese side came from the behind in the final competition. The 23-year-old Zhang turned the tables when China dragged behind 15-11 and made China lead for the first time in the competition 20- 19.
Dong widened the leading margin of the Chinese side 40-34. After Wang and Sanzo gaining five points for each side, China won the frustrating match 45-39.
China's swordswoman Meng Jie scored a contentious final touch on the world No. 1 fencer Valentina Vezzali of Italy, helping the Chinese side win the title of women's team foil fencing.
Meng, who lost women's individual foil gold 8-7 to Vezzali, Atlanta and Sydney Olympic gold medalist, gained nine points for China in the final match.
The final point came on a scrappy exchange in which both fencers appeared to score touches and raised their arms in victory. But the referee awarded the touch to China and Meng.
The 22-year-old Zhang Lei obtained 19 points and 22-year-old Liu Yuan 15 points for the Chinese team.
Ren Daxin, coach of China's national team, said that he was extremely joyous to Chinese fencers' performance.
When fighting powerful Italian swordswomen, the Chinese young women felt full of confidence and defeat them in an aggressive way.
After well-known fencer Xiao Aihua retired, China usually lacks leading members who could be regarded as psychological stabilizers for the team, Ren said.
"We are glad to find out thriving young fencers during the universiade competition," he said.
Before the universiade fencing competition, China expected two golds in men's and women's team foil.
Dong Zhaozhi and Yang Shaoqi won two individual golds of men's foil and women's epee respectively days ago.
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