29-31 JANUARY 2016 – SABRE

Men – Padua (ITA)
Women – Athens (GRE)

Italy’s Aldo Montano followed up his victory at the Boston Fencing Grand Prix with gold in the individual men’s sabre World Cup in Padua, Italy. Montano, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games, beat reigning Olympic champion Aron Szilagyi of Hungary 15-12 in the final. Hungary won the men’s team event, beating Romania in a tight match 45-44.

In the women’s World Cup in the Greek capital a similar story emerged as 2004 Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis edged out her Russian rival Sofya Velikaya by 15 touches to 11. In the women’s team event, Ukraine beat Russia for gold 45-44.

5-7 FEBRUARY 2016 – FOIL

Men – Bonn (GER)
Women – Algiers (ALG)

Russia’s men’s team celebrated its passage to Rio with gold in the team event, beating Italy 45-39 in the final. Meanwhile Great Britain pipped Germany to the European qualification place by finishing ninth overall, and Britain’s James-Andrew Davis beat 2013 world champion Miles Chamley-Watson in the men’s individual final. Twelfth place for Egypt ensured that London 2012 individual silver medallist Alaaeldin Abouelkassem, will get the chance to go one better in Brazil, should he be selected by his federation.

Italy’s Elisa Di Francisca won the gold in Algiers, beating team-mate Martina Batini 15-12 in the final. The Russians beat the Italians 45-32 in the final of the team event.