🇫🇷 NOUTCHA EDGES EMURA IN THRILLER TO CLAIM SALT LAKE CITY GOLD
Updated: Aug 5
SALT LAKE CITY, USA – 24 JANUARY 2026
World number 3 and reigning European Champion Sarah Noutcha (FRA) reached a new career milestone by capturing her first-ever World Cup title at the Women’s Sabre World Cup in Salt Lake City. In a breathtaking final decided by a single touch, Noutcha defeated the World number 1 and reigning Asian Champion Emura Misaki (JPN) 15–14.
Emura (JPN) took home the silver, marking her tenth career World Cup podium. The Japanese star continues a remarkably consistent run of form, having also secured silver at the Tunis Grand Prix earlier this month.
The bronze medals were claimed by a pair of decorated veterans: Yana Egorian (AIN) and Michela Battiston (ITA). For the 2016 Olympic Champion Egorian, the result marks her ninth World Cup podium, while the World number 7 Battiston secured her second World Cup medal.
Path to the Podium
Sarah Noutcha demonstrated why she is considered the breakthrough star of the last year. Her route to the final included a clinical 15–8 victory over her teammate and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Sara Balzer. In the quarter-finals, she survived a massive scare against World number 6 Sugar Katinka Battai (HUN), winning 15–14 in a sudden-death finish. After a comfortable 15–10 semi-final win over Battiston, she showed incredible mental fortitude to overcome Emura on the final point of the tournament.
Emura Misaki reached the gold medal match by dispatching a series of elite opponents. Her path was highlighted by a 15–10 victory over Tunis GP bronze medallist Lucia Martin-Portugues (ESP) in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, she defeated the reigning World Champion Yana Egorian 15–11 to set up the clash with Noutcha.
Yana Egorian (AIN) proved she remains a force at the highest level. Her route to bronze was defined by two massive upsets: first, a 15–10 victory over Algiers World Cup winner Jeon Hayoung (KOR), followed by a gritty 15–13 win over the reigning Olympic Champion, Manon Apithy-Brunet (FRA), in the quarter-finals.
Michela Battiston (ITA) reached the podium after navigating a bracket filled with high-ranking AIN and Italian fencers. Her most impressive win came in the round of 32, where she edged out individual Tunis GP winner Alina Mikhailova 15–14, before eventually falling to the unstoppable Noutcha in the final four.
