If the question is who is the best fencer in the world at the moment, the answer must be Russia’s Foil star Inna Deriglazova.
Already the 2016 Olympic and 2017 World Champion, she has been on a tear this season, winning five tournaments outright and claiming six medals in seven starts. She won the World Cup events in Katowice (POL), St. Maur (FRA), Cairo (EGY) and Tauberbischofsheim (GER) and the Grand Prix in Anaheim, California and was third in last November’s World Cup in Algiers (ALG).
So she’s the big favorite in this week’s third Grand Prix of the season in Shanghai (CHN), with the top-10-ranked Foilers in both the men’s and women’s divisions ready to go:
● Men:
1. Alessio Foconi (ITA) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Race Imboden (USA) ~ 2017-18 Worlds Team silver medalist
3. Richard Kruse (GBR) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist
4. Daniele Garozzo (ITA) ~ 2016 Olympic Champion; 2017 Worlds bronze
5. Andrea Cassara (ITA) ~ 2017 Worlds Team gold medalist
6. Giorgio Avola (ITA) ~ 2017 Worlds Team gold medalist
7. Gerek Meinhardt (USA) ~ 2017-18 Worlds Team silver medalist
8. Ka Long Cheung (HKG)
9. Jun Heo (KOR) ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalist
10. Alexander Massialas (USA) ~ 2016 Olympic silver medalist
● Women:
1. Inna Deriglazova (RUS) ~ 2016 Olympic Champion; 2017 World Champion
2. Alice Volpi (ITA) ~ 2018 World Champion; 2017 Worlds silver
3. Arianna Errigo (ITA) ~ 2017-18 Worlds bronze medalist
4. Ines Boubakri (TUN) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze; 2018 Worlds bronze
5. Lee Kiefer (USA) ~ 2018 Worlds Team gold medalist
6. Ysoara Thibus (FRA) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist; 2017 Worlds bronze
7. Leonie Ebert (GER)
8. Elisa DiFrancisca (ITA) ~ 2016 Olympic silver medalist
9. Anastasiia Ivanova (RUS) ~ 2017 Worlds Team bronze medalist
10. Hee Seok Jeon (KOR)
In the one Grand Prix that Deriglazova did not win – in Turin (ITA) – it was Volpi defeating Di Francesca in the final.
The men’s final in Turin had Imboden of the U.S. claiming victory over Hong Kong’s Cheung, while unheralded Justin Mertine (FRA) won in Anaheim. Look for results from Shanghai here.
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Also on this week are Epee World Cups for men (Paris) and women (in Dubai), also with excellent fields, including the top ten in both events:
● Men:
1. Yannick Borel (FRA) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Bogdan Nikishin (UKR) ~ 2018 Wolds bronze medalist
3. Kazuyasu Minobe (JPN) ~ Bern World Cup winner
4. Ruben Limardo (VEN) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist
5. Dmitriy Alexanin (KAZ) ~ Bern World Cup bronze medalist
6. Koki Kano (JPN) ~ Vancouver World Cup winner
7. Curtis McDowald (USA) ~ Buenos Aires World Cup bronze medalist
8. Jacob Hoyle (USA) ~ Vancouver World Cup bronze medalist
9. Gabriele Cimini (ITA) ~ Buenos Aires World Cup silver medalist
10. Sangyoung Park (KOR) ~ 2016 Olympic Champion
After a drought, the U.S. men suddenly hav two men back in the World Rankings, thanks to strong World Cup showings for McDowald and Hoyle. Look for results here.
● Women:
1. Ana Maria Popescu (ROU) ~ 2016 Olympic team gold medalist
2. Mara Navarria (ITA)
3. Man Wai Vivian Kong (HKG) ~ Barcelona & Havana World Cup winner
4. Yiwen Sun (CHN) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze medalist
5. Katrina Lehis (EST)
6. Young Mi Kang (KOR) ~ 2018 Worlds Team silver medalist
7. Violetta Kolobova (RUS) ~ 2016 Olympic Team bronze medalist
8. In-Jeong Choi (KOR) ~ 2018 Worlds Team silver medalist
9. Kelley Hurley (USA) ~ 2018 Worlds Team gold medalist
10. Julia Beljajeva (EST) ~ 2017 Worlds bronze medalist; 2017 Worlds Team gold
Kong has been outstanding lately, with two wins and a bronze in her last three World Cups. Look for results here.
