Fencing: World, Olympic champions fall in Georgia as Italy’s Favaretto wins Women’s Foil World Cup gold
...USA rules team event ...USA rules team event ...USA rules team event
By George Aluo
Italy’s Martina Favaretto won the individual foil gold medal at the Tbilisi Women’s Foil World Cup and USA won the team gold.
The three day meet which ran from June 2-4 was one in which World and Olympic champions were beaten to the gold.
According to a report by fencing world governing body, FIE, to reach the final, Favaretto defeated France’s world champion Ysaora Thibus, 15-11, while USA’s Olympic champion Lee Kiefer lost in the quarterfinals to Germany’s Ann Sauer.
Another World champion, Italy’s Alice Volpi also got eliminated early when she lost to China’s Yue Shi in the table of 16, 15-14.
The event took place at the Tbilisi Sports Palace, Georgia with 166 individual fencers and 22 teams participating in the competition.
Favaretto faced Germany’s Anne Sauer in the final bout of women’s individual foil, winning with a 15-4 score.
USA faced Italy in the final match of women’s team foil, winning with a 45-41 score.
In the semifinal round, Italy defeated Japan, 45-38, while USA beat France, 45-34. The bronze medal went to Japan over France, 45-40.
Final rankings in women’s individual foil included Martina Favaretto (ITA, gold), Anne Sauer (GER, silver), Eleanor Harvey (CAN, bronze), Ysaora Thibus (FRA, bronze), Lee Kiefer (USA), Yuka Ueno (JPN), Yue Shi (CHN) and Karin Miyawaki (JPN).
Final rankings in women’s team foil included USA (gold), Italy (silver), Japan (bronze), France, Poland, Canada, China and Spain.
