Japan's Iimura, Italy's Favaretto win golds at Foil World Cup in Cairo

Japan's Iimura Kazuki and Italy's Martina Favaretto won the men's and women's senior individual titles respectively at the FIE Foil World Cup here on Saturday evening after two hard-fought finals.

Iimura defeated Czech fencer Alexander Choupenitch 15-10 in the men's final, while Favaretto beat her Italian compatriot Martina Batini by the same scoreline in the women's title clash.

In the men's final, Iimura stayed in front for most of the bout and opened an 11-6 lead by the end of the first period. Choupenitch then launched a late comeback attempt as Iimura approached victory, narrowing the gap before the Japanese fencer sealed the contest 15-10.

Iimura, 22, said he was delighted to win his first individual World Cup gold, but stressed that it is only "a start" toward a bigger goal.

"My final goal is to win the 2028 Olympics. So, today's win is not the end. It is a start," the Japanese fencer, who won team gold but finished fourth in the individual event at Paris 2024, told Xinhua.

The women's final was tighter in its early stages, with Batini and Favaretto going point for point through much of the first period. Favaretto edged ahead 7-6 at the break, then restored control after Batini had drawn level at 8-8, pulling away to win 15-10.

Favaretto, 24, said she stayed mentally strong in the all-Italian women's final, which remained close for much of the bout before she pulled away.

"It's always very difficult to match with your teammates, but today, from the start, I was very determined, very focused, and I did my best point by point until I made it," she said.

Favaretto explained that the Cairo triumph was especially meaningful as she had been seeking another gold after she won the 2025 FIE Foil World Cup in Palma de Mallorca.

Looking ahead, she said she hopes to improve on her Paris 2024 performance, where she placed sixth in the individual event and won team silver. "Paris 2024, I was so-so, so I want to do better in 2028," she said.

France's Anas Anane and American Nick Itkin shared bronze in the men's event, while the women's bronzes went to Poland's Marta Jakubowska and Japan's Sera Azuma.

Held at the indoor halls complex of Cairo International Stadium from April 16 to 19, the tournament brought together about 220 male and 170 female fencers from around the world, according to the Egyptian Fencing Federation. The team competition is scheduled for Sunday.