March 29, 2000 4:16 PM Reuters

NICE, France, March 29 (Reuters) - Russians Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov won the pairs event at the world figure skating championships on Wednesday but their victory was overshadowed by a heroic bronze medal performance by France's Stephane Bernadis and Sarah Abitbol.

Petrova and Tikhonov capitalised on the withdrawal of world champions Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze after a positive drug test to take the gold ahead of China's Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao.

But the Russian pair's elegant routine, skated to Vivaldi's Four Seasons, appeared tame flat coming after an emotionally charged performance from Bernadis and Abitbol.

Their medal hopes appeared over 24 hours earlier after Bernadis was attacked by a razor-wielding assailant in his hotel room.

The attack, which left Bernadis with a 25-cm gash to his left arm which required several stitches, was not visible under the skater's black costume as the pair made their entrance on to the ice to a standing ovation.

Fourth after the short programme, the French pair were lifted by the crowd of 8,000 at the Palais des Exposition.

Their only mistake during a spellbinding routine, performed to The Devil and Angel, was a fall on a throw triple loop.

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