Italian
Martina Batini and the noalese Martina Favaretto surpass Olympic champion Lee Kiefer and take the top two positions in the world foil ranking
The Italian foil team returns from the Grand Prix of Shanghai not only with the success of Martina Batini but also with her rise to the number one spot in the international ranking of the specialty ahead of her national teammate Martina Favaretto. In this last competition of the World Cup season, the two Italians managed to surpass the American Olympic champion Lee Kiefer, who had been at the top of the ranking for over a year, surpassing Favaretto from Noale.
A first place that comes thanks to three seasonal victories in the circuit, including two in an elite GP stage (with increased points), after the first one last February in the home race in Turin, along with the victory in Busan, South Korea. These successes are complemented by the silver in Cairo, which propels the thirty-seven-year-old champion from Pisa to the top of the ranking.
Second place for the twenty-four-year-old from Noale Martina Favaretto, who had already been number 1 for several weeks in 2025 before being overtaken by Kiefer. The two seemed to be the favorites to finish on top, only to be surpassed by the more experienced Batini.
In the rankings, there are five blue athletes from the National Team led by coach Simone Vanni among the “top 16”. In addition to the athlete from Veneto who has also achieved three victories in Palma de Mallorca, Cairo, and Istanbul, it is worth mentioning Anna Cristino who is in 6th place, Arianna Errigo in 8th place, and Alice Volpi in 14th.
The foil will now return to the piste at the European Championships in Antony, France, scheduled from June 16 to 21, and at the subsequent World Championships in Hong Kong, from July 22 to 30.
Photo Credits: Federscherma.it
