🌍 IBRAGIMOV SHOCKS SADDLED BRACKET TO CLAIM PADUA WORLD CUP GOLD
Updated: Aug 5
PADUA, ITALY — 18 APRIL 2026
Two-time World bronze medallist Kamil Ibragimov (AIN) orchestrated a sensational, veteran run to capture the gold medal at the rescheduled Padua Men’s Sabre World Cup. Entering the tournament ranked 91st in the world, Ibragimov rolled back the years on the historic Italian pistes to book his first podium of the 2025–26 season, defeating his compatriot Pavel Graudyn 15–13 in an intense, all-neutral final.
Graudyn (AIN), the World number 35, took home the silver medal—marking a major milestone as his first-ever career senior World Cup podium. The bronze medals were shared by South Korea's reigning Asian Champion Do Gyeongdong and France's former World silver medallist Maxime Pianfetti, who both highlighted a day of elite sabre action.
Path to the Podium
Kamil Ibragimov (World number 91) was forced to navigate an absolute minefield of legends from his opening bout. In the round of 64, he delivered a shocking statement by eliminating Hungary's legendary three-time Olympic Champion Aron Szilagyi 15–9. He followed that up immediately by eliminating Budapest silver medallist Matteo Neri (ITA) 15–12 in the round of 32. After methodically moving past Romania's Răzvan Ursachi in the quarter-finals and holding off a late charge from Pianfetti in the semi-finals, his experience pushed him over the line in the gold-medal bout.
Pavel Graudyn (World number 35) locked down his historic silver with a highly explosive performance through the upper section of the bracket. His day was highlighted by a nerve-shredding 15–14 triumph over Japan's Kokubo Mao in the round of 32. In the semi-finals, Graudyn put on an absolute clinic, completely overwhelming a surging Do Gyeongdong 15–4 to punch his ticket to the final.
Do Gyeongdong (World number 8) put together a brilliant campaign to earn his first individual medal of the season. The reigning Asian Champion was completely clinical in his execution, marching comfortably into the final four. His day was highlighted by a 15–8 demolition of Romania's rising talent Vlad Covaliu in the quarter-finals before his momentum was halted by a red-hot Graudyn in the semi-finals.
Maxime Pianfetti (World number 18) captured a well-deserved breakthrough bronze medal. After logging three quarter-final heartbreaks earlier this season, the Frenchman finally broke through to the podium by acting as the bracket's ultimate giant-killer. In the round of 16, Pianfetti upset World number 1 and reigning World Champion Sandro Bazadze (GEO) 15–13, before backing it up with a stellar 15–10 quarter-final victory over Italy’s veteran two-time World bronze medallist Luca Curatoli.
