TURIN, Italy, Feb. 5-7, 2026
Italy celebrated a double triumph at the Turin Foil Grand Prix, as Martina Batini and Guillaume Bianchi claimed gold in the women’s and men’s foil events respectively.
Martina Batini secured victory in the women’s competition, defeating fellow Italian and two-time World Champion Arianna Errigo (Budapest 2013, Kazan 2014) 15–13 in a closely contested final. Batini topped a strong field of 211 fencers to take the title on home soil.
Errigo’s route to the final included an all-Italian clash in the round of 32, where she overcame two-time World Champion Alice Volpi (Milan 2013, Wuxi 2018) 15–8. One of the tournament’s biggest surprises came in the round of 16, when Italy’s Martina Sinigalia, ranked 21st, defeated world number one and reigning Olympic and World Champion Lee Kiefer of the United States 15–8.
In the semi-finals, Batini defeated Japan’s Sera Azuma 15–8, while Errigo edged past Komaki Kikuchi of Japan 15–14. Azuma and Kikuchi both took bronze medals.
Final Rankings – Women’s Individual Foil
Martina Batini (ITA, gold), Arianna Errigo (ITA, silver), Sera Azuma (JPN, bronze), Komaki Kikuchi (JPN, bronze), Martina Sinigalia (ITA), Karin Miyawaki (JPN, tied 6th), Byeoli Mo (KOR, tied 6th), Dariia Myroniuk (UKR).
In the men’s foil event, Italy’s Guillaume Bianchi emerged victorious from a field of 295 fencers, defeating Paris Olympic bronze medallist Nick Itkin of the United States 15–11 in the final.
A major upset occurred in the round of 64, when Poland’s 20-year-old Jan Nowak, ranked 250th, eliminated world number one Chun Yin Ryan Choi of Hong Kong, China, 15–14. In the semi-finals, Bianchi defeated Alexander Choupenitch of Czechia 15–12, while Itkin overcame two-time defending Olympic champion Ka Long Cheung of Hong Kong, China, 15–9. Choupenitch and Cheung shared the bronze medals.
Final Rankings – Men’s Individual Epee
Guillaume Bianchi (ITA, gold), Nick Itkin (USA, silver), Alexander Choupenitch (CZE, bronze), Ka Long Cheung (HKG, bronze), Kirill Borodachev (_AIN), Mohamed Hamza (EGY), Tommaso Martini (ITA), Shunsuke Baba (JPN).
Watch for upcoming FIE Grand Prix events, including Budapest, Hungary (epee, Mar. 13-15) and Lima, Peru (foil, Mar. 20-22). Complete and official results and photos for this event can be found on the FIE website. To watch the entire competition, along with any other FIE senior event, go to www.FencingTV.com.