SINT-NIKLAAS, Belgium, March 15-17, 2024 – France’s Sara Balzer won the individual gold medal at the Sint-Niklaas Women’s Sabre “SGK Ladies World Cup” and France won the team gold. The event took place at the Sports Centre De Witte Molen with 183 women and 20 teams participating in the competition.
Balzer faced Japan’s two-time world champion Misaki Emura in the final bout of women’s individual sabre, winning with a 15-8 score. In the semifinal round, Emura won against Greece’s Theodora Gkountoura, 15-9, while Balzer defeated Italy’s Martina Criscio, 15-12. Of note, in the round of 64 Bulgaria’s Olga A. Hramova beat Ukraine’s four-time world champion Olga Kharlan, 15-14.
France faced Hungary in the final match of women’s team sabre, winning with a 45-32 score. In the semifinal round, Hungary won against Korea, 45-42, while France defeated Ukraine, 45-39. The bronze medal went to Ukraine over Korea, 45-38.
Final rankings in women’s individual sabre included Sara Balzer (FRA, gold), Misaki Emura (JPN, silver), Martina Criscio (ITA, bronze), Theodora Gkountoura (GRE, bronze), Yaqi Shao (CHN), Yoana Ilieva (BUL), Hayoung Jeon (KOR) and Shihomi Fukushima (JPN).
Final rankings in women’s team sabre included France (gold), Hungary (silver), Ukraine (bronze), Korea, Japan, USA Spain and Italy.
Complete and official results for this event may be found here on the FIE web site. For more exciting world fencing news and features, check out the YouTube FIE Fencing Channel.