Italy's Arianna Errigo was first to triumph in the women's foil, going one better than the silver medal she was awarded at last year's Olympic Games in London, when Italy achieved a clean sweep in the event.

Then Russia's Veniamin Reshetnikov came out on top in the men's sabre, having survived a desperately close semi-final against home favourite Áron Szilágyi, Hungary's reigning Olympic champion.

Errigo (pictured top, left), whose first individual gold medal this was, overcame Germany's Carolin Golubytskyi in her final.

Golubytskyi had pulled off a big shock by eliminating another Italian, Elisa Di Francisca, the Olympic champion, 13-12 in the semi-final.

For Errigo, the victory was vindication of a recent switch to a new coach.


Reshetnikov said it had been hard to fence against a teammate, Nikolay Kovalev, the Olympic bronze medallist, in his final.

"In this season we met twice on the piste and he succeeded both times," Reshetnikov revealed.

The tournament is due to continue til August 12.

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