🇮🇹 UNSTOPPABLE ITALY SECURE HAT-TRICK OF GOLDS AT HONG KONG WORLD CUP
Updated: Aug 5
HONG KONG - 11 JANUARY 2026
The world-beating Italian Women’s Foil team continued their flawless start to the season, claiming their third consecutive World Cup gold medal in Hong Kong. The top seeds—featuring Martina Batini, Arianna Errigo, Martina Favaretto, and Alice Volpi—remain undefeated this season after a masterclass performance in the final against France.
France, the number three seeds, secured the silver medal, improving on their bronze finish from the season opener in Mallorca. The USA maintained their perfect podium record this year, taking home the bronze to add to their two silvers from earlier in the season. Canada delivered their best performance of the campaign, finishing in a highly respectable fourth place.
Path to the Podium
Italy navigated the bracket with the clinical efficiency that has become their trademark. After a comfortable opening win against AIN, they survived a scare against Hungary (45-42) to reach the semi-finals. There, they overcame a spirited Canadian side 45-32 before producing a dominant display in the final against France. Leading from the opening bout, the Italians never looked back, pulling away to secure a comprehensive 45-22 victory.
France (Blaze, Ranvier, Patru, and Lacheray) reached the final following a tactical triumph over the number two-seeded USA. Despite trailing 12-8 after the first three legs, the French team dominated the middle of the match to turn the tide, leading 25-19. They maintained their composure in the closing stages to win 42-35 and book their place in the gold medal match.
The USAÂ (Kiefer, Liu, Stutchbury, and Scruggs) bounced back from their semi-final disappointment to win a thrilling bronze medal play-off against Canada. The match was a see-saw affair; the Americans led 11-10 early on but found themselves trailing 24-22 in the middle stages. However, a late surge saw the USA outscore Canada 22-16 in the final three legs to secure a 44-40 win and their third consecutive podium of the season.
Canada (Y. Zhang, S. Zhang, Harvey, and Hayes) proved to be the "giant-killers" of the day. As the number five seeds, they produced a stunning 32-28 defensive victory over the number four-seeded Japanese team in the quarter-finals. While they ultimately missed out on a medal, their fourth-place finish marks a significant step forward for the squad.
