Volpi wins home gold, Imboden return to number one at FIE Grand Prix in Turin

Reigning world champion Volpi got the edge in an all-Italian women’s foil final, whilst Imboden claimed his third medal in a month to win the men’s competition.

The second in the nine-event series of FIE Grand Prix fencing competition took place at Torino’s Pala Alpitour (Palasport Olimpico), the largest indoor sporting arena in Italy and built originally for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Over 170 fencers competed in the women’s individual foil event which to the delight of the home fans brought together Volpi, the current world number two, and her compatriot London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Elisa Di Francisca in the Final.

In an entertaining contest, Volpi, who also won European Games gold at Baku 2015, came through the challenge winning 15-9 to seal success on home soil.

She had earlier defeated Germany’s Leonie Ebert 15-8 in the quarter-finals and Russia’s Anastasiia Ivanova 15-12 in her semi-final. Di Francisca made the gold medal decider having got past another Italian in Francesca Palumbo 15-7.

About 220 men’s foilists including several world and Olympic champion athletes competed in the men’s competition, which saw the in-form American Imboden earn his third medal in an FIE World Cup or Grand Prix in a month.

He came up against surprise finalist in Ka Long Cheung of Hong Kong, who had earlier accounted for Imboden’s teammates Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt in the quarter-finals (15-7) and semi-finals (15-12) respectively.

However Imobden, who defeated 2018 World Champion Alessio Foconi of Italy, 15-13, in his semi-final, brought the run to a halt in decisive fashion taking the gold medal thanks to a 15-6 scoreline in the Final.

The win not only secured his second career Grand Prix but also moved the American up from number three in the FIE World Rankings back to number one. For Cheung, he can take consolation from earning his first career Grand Prix medal and his first medal in a worldwide competition in two years.

The next FIE Grand Prix is the men’s and women’s sabre competition in Le Caire, Egypt, from 22 to 24 February.