WUXI, China, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese fencers made it to the last eight in the women's sabre while five others advanced to the last 32 in the men's foil at the 2018 World Fencing Championships here on Tuesday.
In the top 32 clash of women's sabre, Shao Yaqi upset the world No. 1 seed and three-time world champion Olga Kharlan of Ukraine 15-13, and beat Martina Criscio of Italy 15-13, while her teammate Qian Jiarui bested the Romanian Bianca Pascu by one point.
After both advanced to the top eight, their marvelous performances didn't last as they were stopped by a pair of Russian fencers.
"I am satisfied with my performance in these matches," Shao said after the quarterfinal. "I am so glad that I can beat the No.1 seed and I will prepare myself for the coming 2018 Jakarta Asian Games."
Like in the men's foil, Chinese Wu Bin and Huang Mengkai both defeated their opponents and clinched places in the top 32.
However, in the next round, they were knocked out by Canadian Maximilien van Haaster and German Alexander Kahl respectively.
The women's team epee and the men's team sabre also started Tuesday. As the No.1 seed at the world championships, the Chinese women's team epee bested Canada 45-34, advancing to the top eight.
The Chinese men's sabre team was eliminated by Russia in the round of 16.
Sofia Pozdniakova of Russia claimed the individual women's sabre gold and Italian Alessio Foconi won the men's foil competition.
The finals of the women's team epee and men's sabre will begin on Wednesday. The women's team foil and men's epee top eight will also be decided.
The Championships runs until July 27 at the Wuxi New Sports Center Gymnasium. Fencers from 109 countries and regions will vie for 12 titles in foil, epee and sabre.
In total, China has sent 27 athletes to compete in the women's and men's individual and team events.
