Netchaeva Takes Gold in Women’s Sabre

The home team came away with the big win today as Russian Elena Netchaeva defeated #1 ranked Xue Tan 15-12 to win the 2007 World Championship in Women’s Sabre. Gioria Marzocca of Italy and Bogna Jozwiak of Poland took third place honors.

Watch the Women’s Sabre Medal Round online on WCSN

Netchaeva came into the world championships seeded 7th and cruised through her direct elimination matches up to the quarterfinals. In the quarters, she had her first true test against Poland’s Alexsandra Socha. Socha had earlier upset US phenom Rebecca Ward in a 15-14 nail biter, but she ended up short against the Russian veteran.

Netchaeva then dispatched Socha’s team mate Jozwiak 15-12 before heading into the gold medal bout against China’s Xue Tan.

Earlier in the day, the highly favored US women were knocked out. Ward was upset in the round of 32 and Olympic medalists Mariel Zagunis and Sada Jacobson went out in the round of 8.

Direct Elimination Table – Quarterfinals

Final Ranking – 2007 Women’s Sabre Individual World Championship