Italian
The men’s foil team and the women’s sabre team win the gold medal at the World Championships. Italy is already certain of the first place in the medal table.
HONG KONG – A historic day for Italian fencing. On the first day of the World Championships in Hong Kong dedicated to team events, the Azzurri dominate and secure two gold medals out of two, thus extending their lead at the top of the medal table by Nations.
Great comeback at the last hit for the men’s foil team, which thus reaffirms itself as World Champion against the home team of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the women’s sabre team becomes champions of everything, already the reigning Olympic champions, but risking a comeback from Estonia.
Seven medals in five days, with three golds and four bronzes, and the final peak of the medal table is almost assured, at least in terms of the number of medals. With two days of competitions still to go, only South Korea could come close to the Italian haul, which has already surpassed last year’s total in Tbilisi (where there were six, including two golds and four bronzes).
Today in competition were the team events of men’s foil and women’s sabre. The reigning European Champions with Matteo Galassi, Simone Mencarelli, Davide Di Veroli, and Andrea Santarelli were defeated in the round of 16 by Hungary 45-43. The women’s team made up of Michela Battiston, Mariella Viale, Manuela Spica, and Claudia Rotili narrowly missed the feat against France, losing at the last touch 45-44 and finishing seventh.
The bronze and gold finals, starting at 10:30 AM Italian time, will be broadcast live on RAI Sport (on the web RAI Play) and Eurosport 2 (across all platforms from Dazn to HBO and Discovery). On the FIS social channels and on the Federscherma Youtube page, all updates and voices from the protagonists of the World Championship in Hong Kong 2026.
Men’s Foil Still on Top of the World
The quartet composed of Guillaume Bianchi, Filippo Macchi, Tommaso Martini, and Tommaso Marini reaffirms their title as World Champions. And they do it in the most epic way possible. A comeback that seemed impossible, with the home team going up by +8 and then making history for the second consecutive title.
The day started by defeating Malaysia 45-15 in the round of 16. In the next round, the Azzurri then defeated Brazil 45-20. In the quarter-finals, another display of strength, this time against Egypt, beaten 45-28. In the semi-finals, it was the turn of Japan, a much more balanced match that was resolved in the end with a score of 45-37.
The story was made in the epic final with Hong Kong, featuring the Olympic champion Cheung in a state of grace. The home team starts off strong, giving the impression of having the match under control and taking an 8-point lead. But Italy does not give up and gradually chips away point by point until the last round, where Bianchi steps onto the piste to face the opposing star.
The score sees the Asians ahead by 4, but the blue team comes back to tie at 44, then goes on to score the decisive hit for victory. The men’s foil thus reaffirms its position at the top of the World with Pippo Macchi stating: “We are a true team that never gives up, friends as well as great athletes. And we have proven it. An immense joy.”
Fencing Champions of Everything
The factors change but the result remains the same. The multiple champion Mara Navarria exits and Gaia Caforio enters, but the Italian women’s foil team always wins, no matter what. Alberta Santuccio, Giulia Rizzi, and Rossella Fiamingo achieve the historic double of Olympics and World Championships.
The Azzurre win their debut against Australia 40-14, then battle with Switzerland managing to prevail 29-27. Next comes the quarter-final match against the hosts Hong Kong, won 45-24. In the semi-final, Italy faces South Korea and quickly falls behind by 5, then recovers point by point until 45-44.
In the final, the difficult challenge with Estonia somewhat resembled the duel of the foilists but in reverse. The Azzurre took the lead right from the start, only to endure a slow comeback from their opponents. The last round with Alberta Santuccio on the piste was thrilling.
A series of double hits and the passing seconds rewarded the Italian quartet 31-30. For the Italian women’s foil, this is the second world victory seventeen years after the last and only (until yesterday) title won in Antalya 2009 by the quartet composed of Nathalie Moellhausen, Bianca Del Carretto, Cristiana Cascioli, and Francesca Quondamcarlo.
2026 Men’s Foil Team World Championships | Hong Kong, July 28
Here are the results
Ranking (35): 1. ITALY (Guillaume Bianchi, Filippo Macchi, Tommaso Martini, Tommaso Marini), 2. Hong Kong, 3. United States, 4. Egypt
2026 Women’s Team Fencing World Championships | Hong Kong, July 28
Here are the results
Ranking (36): on the piste Estonia, ITALY (Alberta Santuccio, Giulia Rizzi, Rossella Fiamingo, Gaia Caforio), 3. Korea, 4. Hungary
2026 World Championships | Hong Kong, July 22-30
PROGRAM, BLUE TEAM AND TV SCHEDULE IN ITALY
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Men’s Individual Foil (2. Filippo Macchi, 6. Tommaso Marini, 10. Guillaume Bianchi, 34. Tommaso Martini)
Women’s Individual Epee (2. Giulia Rizzi, 5. Alberta Santuccio, 12. Gaia Caforio, 36. Rossella Fiamingo)
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Women’s Individual Sabre (11. Michela Battiston, 26. Mariella Viale, 60. Manuela Spica, 68. Claudia Rotili)
Men’s Individual Foil (2. Davide Di Veroli, 10. Simone Mencarelli, 17. Matteo Galassi, 105. Andrea Santarelli)
Monday, July 27, 2026
Women’s Individual Foil (1. Martina Favaretto, 2. Arianna Errigo, 5. Martina Batini, 6. Anna Cristino)
Men’s Individual Sabre (28. Michele Gallo, 39. Pietro Torre, 42. Cosimo Bertini, 49. Matteo Neri)
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Men’s Foil Team (1. ITALY – Guillaume Bianchi, Filippo Macchi, Tommaso Martini, Tommaso Marini)
Women’s Sabre Team (ITALY – Alberta Santuccio, Giulia Rizzi, Rossella Fiamingo, Gaia Caforio)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 (live TV: RAI Sport and Eurosport from 10:30 AM)
Women’s Team Sabre | Main draw and final stages (ITALY – Michela Battiston, Mariella Viale, Manuela Spica, Claudia Rotili)
Men’s Team Foil | Main draw and final stages (ITALY – Matteo Galassi, Simone Mencarelli, Davide Di Veroli, Andrea Santarelli)
Thursday, July 30, 2026 (live TV: RAI Sport and Eurosport from 9:00 AM)
Women’s Foil Team | Main draw and final stages (ITALY – Martina Batini, Martina Favaretto, Arianna Errigo, Anna Cristino)
Men’s Sabre Team | Main draw and final stages (ITALY – Michele Gallo, Pietro Torre, Matteo Neri, Cosimo Bertini)
Photo Credits: Augusto Bizzi/Federscherma.it
