Paolo Pizzo won the second world title of his career today ©FIE

Italy's Paolo Pizzo won the second International Fencing Federation (FIE) World Championships men's épée title of his career in Leipzig today.

The 34-year-old returned to the top of the podium at this event for the first time since 2011, where he won on home soil in Catania. 

Pizzo defeated Estonia's Nikolai Novosjolov 15-13 to secure the crown at the Arena Leipzig in the German city.

Bronze medals were shared between Germany's Richard Schmidt and Hungarian András Rédli.

South Korea's Park Sang-young, the top seed and reigning Olympic champion, was eliminated in the round of 64 by Flavio Giannotte of Luxembourg 15-12.

France's current European champion Yannick Borel was also humbled in the round of 64 with the second seed beaten by Georg Kuhn of Switzerland 15-12.

Olha Kharlan, left, defeated Cécilia Berder, right, to reach the final ©FIE
Olha Kharlan, left, defeated Cécilia Berder, right, to reach the final ©FIE

Ukraine's Olha Kharlan eased to the women's sabre title.

The London 2012 and Rio 2016 bronze medallist, who has held the world title in 2013 and 2014, thrashed Azza Besbes of Tunisia 15-5 in the gold medal contest.

The two bronze medals were won by Cécilia Berder of France and Italy's Irene Vecchi.

Russia's Rio 2016 champion Yana Egorian was ousted in the last 32 after falling to a 15-13 defeat by Spaniard Lucia Martín-Portugues.

Action is due to continue tomorrow with gold medals to be awarded in men's foil and women's épée competitions.