Fencing stars shine at Warsaw World Cup

By Tim Norris | For the IPC

After four months without competition, world champions Beatrice Vio and Dimitri Coutya showed no rust as both won their respective events at the International Wheelchair Amputee and Sports Federation (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing World Cup that finished on Sunday (8 July) in Warsaw, Poland.

Italian sensation Vio triumphed 15-7 over Thailand’s Saysunee Jana in the women’s foil B, her eighth consecutive win since taking Paralympic gold at Rio 2016. It was a strong performance from Vio ahead of September’s home European Championships in Terni.

Great Britain’s Coutya also delivered convincing performances in the final World Cup before the Europeans. He first survived a 15-12 bout with France’s Maxime Valet in the men’s foil B and then beat Yohan Peter, another French opponent, 15-9 in the epee.

Ukrainian women top podiums

Ukrainian fencers laid down a marker at the year’s fourth World Cup.

World No. 2 Tetiana Pozniak secured her first gold of the year edging China’s Ao Lanzhu 11-10 to win the women’s epee B. Compatriot Yevheniia Breus also recorded her first win of 2018 after cruising past Hungary’s Eva Andrea Hajmasi 15-5 in the women’s sabre A final.

Russian Iuliia Maya* prevented a third gold for Ukraine, taking down Yevheniia Breus 8-6 in the women’s epee A.

More golden runs

Hungary’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Richard Osvath and Great Britain’s Piers Gilliver both continued their remarkable seasons.

World No. 1 Osvath secured his third consecutive World Cup with a 15-11 victory over Russia’s Roman Fedyaev* 15-11 in the men’s foil A.

Gilliver carried over his success from March’s World Cup in Italy with a similar scoreline against Russia’s Artur Yusupov*.

There was home success in the men’s sabre B. Grzegorz Pluta added to his World Cup gold from Pisa, Italy, with a 15-8 victory over Russia’s Timur Khamatshin*.

Asian success

Warsaw appears to be favourable for Yu Chui Yee. The Hong Kong fencer defeated Italy’s Andrea Mogos 15-11 in the women’s foil A, her first win in almost a year, which also was in Warsaw.

China’s Li Hao upset Italy’s world No. 3 Edoardo Giordan 15-9 to take the men’s sabre A.

Following her loss to Vio in the women’s foil B, Jana settled for a second silver medal after falling to Georgia’s top ranked Irma Khetsuriani 15-10 in the women’s sabre B.

Results from the IWAS World Cup in Warsaw are available online

In addition to World Cups, IWAS Wheelchair Fencing European, Asian and Americas Championships are all taking place this year. Visit the calendar to find out more.