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| Zhong Man (3rd R) of China's men's sabre team celebrates with teammates during the award ceremony for the men's sabre team at FIE Moscow Tournament in Moscow, capital of Russia, March 18, 2012. China defeated Russia 45-44 to claim the title. (Xinhua/Li Yong) |
China beat Russia 45-44 on Sunday to win the men's team crown at the 2012 Moscow Sabre World Cup.
Facing the defending champions, the Chinese team of Zhong Man, Wang Jingzhi, Jiang Kelu and Liu Xiao, pulled off an impressive performance in the final, said Zhong Man, the first Chinese Olympic champion in the men's fencing.
"We played cool and were in great form," Zhong told Xinhua after the final.
The Russians had once led 25-21, but the Chinese fencers caught up and made it 41-all. The host fencers fought back to lead 44-42 before Zhong turned the tables with three straight points.
In the third-place playoff, the United States downed Belarus 45-41.
Some 300 fencers from more than 40 countries and regions participated in the Moscow World Cup, which featured Grand Prix for women's individual and the World Cup for the men's individual and team.
The five Chinese men fared poorly in the individual event with none qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Chinese women's fencer Chen Xiaodong on Saturday finished second in the women's individual final, defeated by defending champion Sofia Velikaia from Russia 15-11.
