The London 2012 Olympic individual bronze medallist and Beijing 2008 team champion defeated Mariel Zagunis of the United States 15-12 to claim the gold.

The bronze medals went to home athletes in the form of Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games champion Yana Egorian and last year's world silver medallist Yekaterina Dyachenko.

"I'm so happy to win a medal," Egorian said.

"I was a few steps from victory but I shouldn't complain.

"It was my second appearance at the World Championships and I'm content with the outcome."

Nikolay Kovalev has secured Russia's first gold medal of the World Fencing Championships on home turf ©Getty Images


Meanwhile in the men's event, Russia's Nikolay Kovalev went one better than his silver last year to secure the gold and the sabre world title by overcoming South Korean Olympic team champion Gu Bon-Gil 15-7.

There were more medals for the home nation as European champion Aleksey Yakimenko claimed a bronze medal, along with Romanian London 2012 team silver medallist Tiberiu Dolniceanu.

The World Championships are due continue tomorrow with the finals of the women's and men's foil events.

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