Fencing, Grand Prix saber in Orleans: Italian triumph in women’s tournament

Saturday was a day to remember for Italian fencing, particularly for the women’s saber team. In the Orleans leg of the Fencing Grand Prix, the elite circus that awards increased scores compared to the other World Cup events, Michela Battiston in fact won the tournament reserved for women, while Mariella Viale completed the podium by taking the third step.

At the age of 28, after two silvers already collected in her career, the Friulian from the Air Force crowned her golden dream by beating, in a final decided at the last stroke, Hungary’s Anna Spiesz with a score of 15-14, thus signing the most important victory of her career. Battiston had beaten in the semifinals precisely her compatriot Viale: the 20-year-old Neapolitan finished third, ex-aequo, with Frenchwoman Sara Balzer.

In the men’s event, however, the best result for the Azzurri came from Leonardo Dreossi: ranked seventh, he hit the highest placing of his career. The Saturday of Italian fencing thus closed with five medals: in fact, those of the sabre fencers were added to the three that came from foil in Asia, with Martina Batini’s gold and Martina Favaretto’s bronze in the women’s event in Busan, Korea, and Giulio Lombardi’s third place in the men’s event in Fukuoka, Japan.

The best result for the Azzurri in sabre fencing came in the men’s event in Busan, Korea.

For saber, both women’s and men’s, the next appointment is set for January 9-11, 2026 on the Tunis platforms, once again for a Grand Prix stage.