The American sabre trio is likely to dominate the podium of team event due to be held on Thursday after they swept the sabre individual medals five days ago.
The U.S. sabre team, boasting an Olympic champion, a world champion, and the current world's top seed, finished the 2007-2008 season ranked No.1 and is set to reassert the U.S. as the premier nation for women's sabre.
The sabre trio includes Mariel Zagunis, who defended her Olympic title on Aug 9, and Sada Jacobson, the bronze and silver medalist in Athens and Beijing games respectively. The 18-year-old Becca Ward, who won the bronze medal last Saturday are also involved.
Another contender will be French team, which consists of 9th-ranked Leonore Perrus, Anne-Lise Touya, Carole Vergne and Solenn Mary. The French have historically performed better in sabre as a team than in the Individual event. The French women will look to redeem themselves in team sabre after a disappointing performance in the Individual event, where Perrus, Touya and Vergne all lost in the Round of 32.
Ukraine, Russia, and China are strong challengers to the United States and France. China will field in a strong team comprised of Tan Xue, Bao Yingying, Huang Haiyang and reserve Ni Hong. For Tan, the team event is an opportunity to improve on her premature exit from individual sabre.
(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2008)