China defeated France 45-38 here Thursday in the Olympic women's sabre team event, winning the ticket to the final bout in which it will face Ukraine.

The team, consisting of Tan Xue, Bao Yingying and Ni Hong, led the French players Leonore Perrus, Lise Anne and Carole Vergne after a 4-4 draw and kept it throughout the bout.

In another semifinal, top seed the United States lost to Ukraine 45-39.

Boasting of the top three finishers in the individual event Mariel Zagunis, Sada Jacobson and Rebecca Ward, the top-ranked United States just stopped at the semifinal.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)