The FIE World Cup circuit returns of action this week with a heavy schedule of four tournaments in two disciplines in four countries:
● Epee: Men in Heidenheim (GER) for the 66th Heidenheim Cup
● Epee: Women in Havana (CUB)
● Foil: Men in Paris (FRA) for the Challenge International de Paris
● Foil: Women in Katowice (POL)
A look at each of the four events:
Epee:
In the Heidenheim Cup for men, a massive field of 319 swordsmen are registered, including six from the top 10 in the FIE World Rankings:
2. Bogdan Nikishin (UKR) ~ 2018 Heidenheimer Pokal silver medalist
4. Ruben Limardo Gascon (VEN)
6. Max Heinzer (SUI)
7. Dmitriy Alexanin (KAZ)
8. Kazuyasu Minobe (JPN) ~ Defending champion
10. Curtis McDowald (USA)
Look for results here.
In Havana, the women’s Epee competition includes 154 entries, with eight of the top 10 in the World Rankings:
1. Mara Navarria (ITA) ~ 2018 Havana World Cup: 11th place
4. Yiwen Sun (CHN) ~ 2018 Havana World Cup bronze medalist
5. Olena Kryvytska (UKR) ~ 2018 Havana World Cup: 10th place
6. Young Mi Kang (KOR) ~ 2018 Havana World Cup: 5th place
7. Man Wai Vivian Kong (HKG) ~ 2018 Havana World Cup bronze medalist
8. Injeong Choi (KOR)
9. Katrina Lehis (EST)
10. Coraline Vitalis (FRA) ~ Defending Havana World Cup champion
The American sisters Courtney Hurley (ranked no. 11) and Kelley Hurley (no. 14) are also entered. Look for results here.
Foil:
The Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris will be the site for the Challenge International de Paris, with a big field of 250 Foilers entered, including the entire top 10 in the FIE World Rankings:
1. Alessio Foconi (ITA) ~ Defending champion
2. Richard Kruse (GBR) ~ 2018 Challenge Int’l de Paris: 6th place
3. Race Imboden (USA) ~ 2018 Challenge Int’l de Paris: 7th place
4. Andrea Cassara (ITA)
5. Daniele Garozzo (ITA) ~ 2018 Challenge Int’l de Paris silver medalist
6. Timur Safin (RUS) ~ 2018 Challenge Int’l de Paris: 5th place
7. Alexey Cheremisinov (RUS) ~ 2018 Challenge Int’l de Paris: 15th place
8. Alexander Massialas (USA)
9. Enzo Lefort (FRA)
10. Erwann Le Pechoux (FRA)
The powerful U.S. continent also includes former World Champion Miles Chamley-Watson (currently ranked no. 29), Gerek Meinhardt (no. 15) and Nick Itkin (no. 47). Look for results here.
The women’s Foil fest in Katowice also has a big field of 196 entries, including the entire top-10 ranked athletes:
1. Inna Deriglazova (RUS) ~ Defending champion
2. Alice Volpi (ITA)
3. Lee Kiefer (USA) ~ 2018 Katowice World Cup silver medalist
4. Ines Boubakri (TUN)
5. Arianna Errigo (ITA)
6. Ysaora Thibus (FRA)
7. Eleanor Harvey (CAN)
8. Svetlana Tripapina (RUS)
9. Camilla Mancini (ITA) ~ 2018 Katowice World Cup bronze medalist
10. Leonie Ebert (GER)
The American women’s squad is also a powerhouse, with no. 11 Nicole Ross and no. 12 Nzingha Prescod also entered. Look for results here.
Both the Paris and Katowice events have both individual and team competitions.