Over four-hundred and fifty women’s and men’s foilists will be competing for gold at the World Cup in Istanbul, Türkiye this weekend.
On the women’s side, the fencer to watch will be second-ranked Martina Favaretto of Italy, who has reached the podium four times this season and took the gold two weeks ago at the World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. Favaretto won the first World Cup of the season in Palma De Mallorca, Spain in November, as well as bronze at the Lima, Peru Grand Prix in March and the World Cup in Busan, Korea in December.
Another fencer to watch will be fellow Italian Martina Batini, who has reached the top of the podium twice this season, first at the Busan World Cup and then at the Grand Prix in Turin, Italy in February. She also took the silver to Favaretto in Cairo.
Guillaume Bianchi of Italy is the second seed but arguably the foilist in the best form on the men’s side this season, having reached the podium four times including gold at the first two Grand Prix in Turin in February and Lima, Peru in March.
Sixth-ranked and Paris 2024 bronze medalist Nick Itkin is also in top form, having taken the bronze in Cairo two weeks ago, as well as silver at the Turin Grand Prix.
Event: FIE World Cup
Place: Istanbul, Türkiye
Weapon: Foil
Gender: Women & Men
Dates: 30 April - 3 May 2026
Info: W & M, Individual & Team Foil