🇮🇹 FAVARETTO DOMINATES IN CAIRO TO CLAIM SECOND SEASON GOLD
Updated: Aug 5
CAIRO, EGYPT — 18 APRIL 2026
World number 2 Martina Favaretto (ITA) put on a breathtaking display of fencing supremacy to capture the gold medal at the rescheduled Cairo Women’s Foil World Cup. The Italian maestro was utterly untouchable in Egypt, conceding single-digit touches in every single direct elimination bout until she defeated her teammate Martina Batini 15–10 in an elite all-Italian final.
The victory marks Favaretto’s second World Cup title of the season—following her gold at the Palma opener—and her fourth individual podium overall in a sensational campaign.
Batini (ITA), the world number 3 and winner of the Busan World Cup and Turin Grand Prix, took home the silver medal to continue her stellar season. The bronze medals were shared by Japan’s Azuma Sera and the ultimate underdog story of the year, Poland’s Marta Jakubowska.
Path to the Podium
Martina Favaretto (World number 2) put together one of the most statistically dominant runs in recent fencing history. She dismantled her opening opponents before completely overwhelming the reigning European Champion and world number 9, Éva Lacheray (FRA), 15–3 in the quarter-finals. After cruising past Jakubowska 15–6 in the semi-finals, she showcased her world-class speed in the final to comfortably hold off Batini.
Martina Batini (World number 3) reached the final by navigating a highly competitive section of the draw. Her march to the silver medal was highlighted by a classic quarter-final showdown against her longtime domestic rival, Lima Grand Prix champion Alice Volpi, whom she edged out 15–13. Batini then booked her spot in the final with a clinical 15–9 win over Japan’s Azuma.
Marta Jakubowska (World number 341) authored the definitive breakthrough performance of the entire 2025–26 season. In just her second year on the senior circuit, the Polish teenager manufactured a mind-boggling giant-killing spree. She won three consecutive one-touch thrillers over world number 19 Jacqueline Liu (USA), world number 5 Ueno Yuka (JPN), and world number 15 Carolina Stutchbury (USA). Jakubowska then shocked the fencing world in the quarter-finals by soundly defeating legendary two-time World Champion Arianna Errigo (ITA) 15–7 to secure an unbelievable maiden senior podium.
Azuma Sera (World number 16) added to her Turin Grand Prix bronze with a magnificent run in Cairo. Her standout moment came in the round of 16, where she produced an absolute masterclass to eliminate the reigning World Champion and double Olympic Champion, Lee Kiefer (USA), 15–12. She followed that up by defeating Italy's world number 11 Anna Cristino 15–10 to lock up her second podium of the year.
