🇮🇹 UNBEATEN SEASON COMPLETE: ITALY CAPTURES WOMEN'S TEAM FOIL WORLD TITLE
HONG KONG — 30 JULY 2026
Top seeds Italy brought an absolute masterclass to a close on the ninth and final day of the 2026 World Championships, capturing the women’s team foil title. Competing at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, the Italian powerhouse completed an incredible, unbeaten seasonal campaign by out-adjusting a determined United States squad to secure a convincing 45–29 victory in the gold medal match.
The golden triumph capping off the penultimate event in Hong Kong completes a flawless season for the Italians, who went undefeated across every team event this year.
While the United States earned a proud silver medal, Japan defeated France in a tense battle to claim the World bronze medal.
Path to the Podium
Team Italy, fielding a superstar roster of Martina Batini, Anna Cristino, individual silver medallist Arianna Errigo and individual World Champion Martina Favaretto, opened their knockout campaign with a bye before blowing past Israel 45–18 and Hungary 45–25.
In the semi-finals against Japan, Italy put on a display of total dominance. With Errigo resting on the bench, Batini starred for the Italian side, which immediately stormed out to a 15–5 lead after three legs. The unbeaten top seeds never allowed Japan into the match, cruising to a seemingly effortless 45–19 win.
The gold medal match against the USA began with tactical friction. The Americans attempted to neutralize Italy's offense by slowing down the tempo, successfully building a 15–12 lead after three legs. The USA maintained their measured pace through the middle bouts until Errigo came off on in the sixth leg. Errigo completely altered the momentum of the final, unleashing a brilliant 12–5 run against Lauren Scruggs to vault Italy into a 30–26 lead. Favaretto and Errigo pushed the margin further to hand Italy a 40–29 cushion heading into the final leg, where Cristino closed out the 45–29 victory.
Team United States, featuring Josephina Conway, Jaelyn Liu, Lauren Scruggs and Carolina Stutchbury, put together a clinical tournament run to capture silver without double Olympic Champion Lee Kiefer. Seeded second, the Americans advanced comfortably past Singapore 45–29 and Ukraine 36–25 in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals against France, the USA took control right from the opening touch. With Conway resting on the bench, the American trio built a commanding 40–20 lead heading into the final bout, easing to a dominant 45–23 victory to book their spot in the final.
Team Japan, represented by Azuma Sera, Kikuchi Komaki, Tsuji Sumire and individual bronze medallist Ueno Yuka, bounced back from their semi-final setback against Italy to secure the bronze medal. The World number four seeds advanced past Hong Kong 45–27 and Russia 31–17 in the early rounds.
In the bronze medal match against France, Japan edged a cagey opening third to lead 12–7. France subbed in Eva Lacheray in the fifth bout but Japan maintained control to hold a 20–16 lead after six relays. Japan brought in Kikuchi off the bench for Azuma, expanding the advantage to 27–22. Anita Blaze initiated a late French revival but the Japanese squad preserved a 30–27 edge heading into the anchor leg, successfully closing out the victory to add World bronze to the bronze medals they won earlier in the season in Busan and Istanbul.
Team France, consisting of Pauline Ranvier, Eva Lacheray, Ysoara Thibus and Anita Blaze, finished fourth. Seeded third, the French squad defeated Poland 43–32 and Canada 45–38 before falling to the USA and Japan in the medal rounds.
Full results are here.
