In one of the most thrilling finales in a World Cup team event, Alina Mikhailova of seventh-ranked _AIN overcame a 40-36 deficit to outscore Paris, France 2024 Olympic silver medallist Sara Balzer 9-3 and lead _AIN to a 45-43 victory over defending World Champion and top-seeded France (Tbilisi, Georgia 2025) at the final women’s sabre World Cup of the season in Lima, Peru.
In a hard-fought match where France had built the lead primarily due to an outstanding performance by the individual gold medallist in Lima, Sarah Noutcha, who registered a +7 indicator (17 touches scored against 10 touches against), Balzer had a huge advantage coming into the 9th and final leg. But Mikhailova, winner of the Tunis, Tunisia Grand Prix in January and the Tashkent, Uzbekistan World Cup in March, completely overpowered Balzer to lead her team to the gold.
_AIN had a bye in the round of 32 and then defeated Ukraine 45-43 in the round of 16. Mikhailova again was the superhero, as _AIN trailed 40-35 going into the last leg. Mikhailova then outscored Oleksandra Bondar 10-3 to lead her team to victory.
The next two matches were relatively one-sided, as _AIN bear Korea 45-30 in the quarterfinals and then Poland 45-24 in the semifinals.
It was the second World Cup for _AIN, as they took gold at the Tashkent World Cup, as well.
The top-seeded France drew a bye in the round of 32 and then scored decisive victories over Hong Kong, China 45-34 and traditional rival Italy 45-31 to reach the semifinals
In the semifinal match which featured four lead changes, the penultimate eight leg proved to be the difference, as Noutcha overcame a 35-32 deficit to outscore Anna Spiesz 8-3 to give France the lead. Balzer was able to close out the match against Liza Pusztai 45-43.
Hungary defeated Poland 45-36 to take the bronze medal.
Final Rankings – Women’s Team Sabre
_AIN (Gold)
Yana Egorian, Aleksandra Mikhailova, Alina Mikhailova, Olga Nikitina
France (Silver)
Sarah Noutcha, Sara Balzer, Faustine Clapier, Toscane Tori
Hungary (Bronze)
Sugar Katinka Battai, Liza Pusztai, Anna Spiesz, Luca Szucs
Poland
Italy
Azerbaijan
Korea,
Germany