Tan Xue faces tough draw in women's sabre
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-08-14 09:37

World fencing champion Tan Xue shoulders China's hope to claim a gold medal in Athens Olympic Games, but she will have to conquer a series of challenge on her road, according to the draw held Thursday.

The world No 4 fencer, gold medal winner in the individual event at the world championships 2002, is drawn in the same zone with top-ranked Sada Jacobson of the United States and Russian Elena Netchaeva, who ranked No 3 in the world.

China has been in a gold drought from Olympic fencing tournament since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, in which Luan Jujie claimed the title of the women's individual foil event.

However, Chinese fencing official take a relaxed attitude to the draw. "We are not worried about it, " said Li Xin, an official from the Chinese Fencing Association. "There is no easy way to reach the podium."

In the men's foil event, Wang Haibin, Dong Zhaozhi and Wu Hanxiong carry China's medal hopes in the men's foil event.

Wang and Dong, who won the silver medal in the team event four years ago in Sydney, have been drawn into different zone.

Could all Chinese fencers advance, they will face Italy's world top three fencers, Andrea Cassara, Salvatore Sanzo and Simone Vanni, in the quarter-finals.

While in women's epee, veteran Li Na is joined by two new-comers, Shen Weiwei and Zhang Li, to challenge Europeans' dominance.

Shen could meet world No 1 fencer Laura Flessel-Colovic of France at the last-16 round as Li, ranked fourth in the world, is waiting at the end of the upper part of the draw. Zhang has to beat Hungary's Adrienn Hormay before entering the last eight in the other zone.

Chinese fencers will also take part in the men's sabre, men's epee and women's foil events, the first time China to take part in 10 fencing disciplines at the Games.

Fencing tournament will start with the men's individual sabre event on August 14 in the Helliniko Fencing Hall.

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