Zagunis (L) of the United States competes against her teammate Sada Jacobson during the women's individual sabre final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, on August 9, 2008 (Xinhua)

Mariel Zagunis, the Athens Olympic gold medallist in women's sabre, defended her title and won the first gold medal for the U.S. at the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday.

Zagunis beat her teammate Sada Jocobason 15-8.

The bronze medal went to another U.S. fencer Becca Ward after she edged out Sofiya Velikaya of Russia 15-14.

(L-R) Sada Jacobson, Mariel Zagunis and Becca Ward at the award ceremony

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)