Foil World Cup, Alessio Foconi triumphs in Paris
Foe Foil World Cup, Alessio Foconi triumphs in Paris
Alessio Foconi triumphs in the World Cup in Paris, a historic stage of the men’s foil world circuit. The Italian overcame in the final 15-10 the American Alexander Massialas putting the exclamation point on a sumptuous performance, in the always magical setting of the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. Foconi is thus confirmed on the highest step of the podium, winning the second consecutive test this season, just a month after Takasaki’s affirmation. Not only that, for the bearer of the ’Air Force today’s success è the ninth in his career in the World Cup at the individual level, the third in the “temple” Paris (where he was gold already’in 2018 and 2019) and the 18th° podium overall. Numbers that are faithful mirror of the strength of the 35-year-old champion from Terni, whose affirmation in France dà even more charge to the whole Italian foil (this morning d’silver and bronze in the women’s with Martina Sinigalia and Martina Batini in Hong Kong) in view of the Grand Prix of Turin, the next international stage, scheduled from February 7 to 9 at the Inalpi Arena (just opened the presale of tickets).
Alessio Foconiès competition began with a 15-7 success against Hungary’s Dosa in the 64-round scoreboard. The Umbrian airman è then won in the round of 32 over the neutral athlete Semenyuk with a score of 15-9. In the round of 16, Foconi won the derby against teammate – and silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Games – Guillaume Bianchi (then 11° ranked) with a score of 15-13, entering among the “top 8”. In the quarterfinals, Foconi then overcame two-time Olympic champion Ka Long Cheung, Hong Kong’s representative, 15-10, thus winning the certainty of his 18th career medal in a World Cup event, the fifth in the historic Paris stage. But he was not at all satisfied. Alessio è s framing day continued with a super comeback in the semifinals against Spaniard Llavador, beaten 15-10, hence the pass to the’last act. In the final, Foconi also overcame with a score of 15-10 the U.S. Massialas, playing a perfect match and making the notes of the Mameli’s Hymn resound in Paris.
On the day of Foconi’s triumph, as many as four Azzurri stopped on the threshold of the “top 8”, each with their own regrets: 10° place for two-time Olympic silver medalist Filippo Macchi, 11° Guillaume Bianchi (stopped as mentioned by Foconi), 14° Davide Filippi and 15° Edoardo Luperi. Just the latter, in the 16th finals, had eliminated the returning Tommaso Marini, who finished in 18th position in his comeback competition. The reigning world champion, after breaking the ice with a fine 15-13 win over Japan’s Ueno earlier in the day, lost 15-8 to Edo Luperi in the derby that ended amidst the embrace between the two Azzurri. For Tommy, however, he returned with positive feelings and many autographs for the French public.
As for the other azzurri, 32° Giulio Lombardi, 35° Giuseppe Franzoni, 58° Damiano Rosatelli and 62° Damiano Di Veroli.
Tomorrow the historic men’s foil World Cup stage in Paris will conclude with the team competition in which CT Stefano Cerioni’s Italy will line up with the quartet composed of Guillaume Bianchi, Alessio Foconi, Giulio Lombardi and Filippo Macchi. The Azzurri will take the platform at 10:30 a.m. in the round of the round of 16 against the winner of the match between Ukraine and Spain.
Men’s Foil World Cup – Paris, Jan. 11, 2025
Final
Foconi (ITA) b. Massialas (Usa) 15-10
Semifinals
Foconi (ITA) b. Llavador (Esp) 15-10
Massialas (Usa) b. Choupenitch (Cze) 15-10
Quarterfinals
Foconi (ITA) b. Cheung (Hkg) 15-10
Eighth finals
Foconi (ITA) b. Bianchi (ITA) 15-13
Massialas (USA) b. Luperi (ITA) 15-13
Borodachev (Ain) b. Filippi (ITA) 15-7
Llavador (Esp) b. Macchi (ITA) 15-11
Table of 32
Luperi (ITA) b. Marini (ITA) 15-8
Borodachev (Ain) b. Lombardi (ITA) 15-9
Filippi (ITA) b. Hamza (Egy) 15-9
Macchi (ITA) b. Saito (Jpn) 15-7
Bianchi (ITA) b. Puzankov (Ain) 15-6
Foconi (ITA) b. Semenyuk (Ain) 15-9
Scoreboard from 64
Marini (ITA) b. Ueno (Jpn) 15-13
Luperi (ITA) b. Emmer (Usa) 15-6
Lombardi (ITA) b. Mo (Chn) 15-14
Filippi (ITA) b. Lee (Kor) 15-8
Macchi (ITA) b. Di Veroli (ITA) 15-9
Bianchi (ITA) b. Rosatelli (ITA) 15-7
Foconi (ITA) b. Dosa (Hun) 15-7
Chamley-Watson (USA) b. Franzoni (ITA) 15-12
Ranking (297): 1. Alessio Foconi (ITA), 2. Alexander Massialas (Usa), 3. Alexander Choupenitch (Cze), 3. Carlos Llavador (Esp).
The other Italians: 10. Filippo Macchi, 11. Guillaume Bianchi, 14. Davide Filippi, 15. Edoardo Luperi, 18. Tommaso Marini, 32. Giulio Lombardi, 35. Giuseppe Franzoni, 58. Damiano Rosatelli, 62. Damiano Di Veroli, 106. Tommaso Martini, 118. Mattia De Cristofaro.
