The world number 20, who made history last month by becoming the first-ever European Games sabre champion with victory over Tiberiu Dolniceanu of Romania in the final, topped pool one with six victories out of six.

His performances on the first day at the Olympic Stadium saw him qualify as the highest-ranked fencer, with the world’s top 16 having already been guaranteed a spot in the round of 64.

Yagodka will now take on Renzo Agresta of Brazil in his first knockout contest tomorrow for a place in the last 32.

Other notable displays came from Italy's Luca Curatoli, Belarusian Aliaksandr Buikevich and Russia's Veniamin Reshetnikov, who all also secured their passage into the next round with six victories.

In the women’s competition, 2013 World Championships bronze medallist Irene Vecchi of Italy booked her place in the knockout phase thanks to a commanding display on day one.

The 26-year-old laid down a marker by breezing through her pool with six victories and she was one of only two women to manage the feat as fencing’s showpiece tournament got underway.

She will now face Olena Voronina, part of the Ukrainian team sabre quarter which won gold at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, in the elimination round.

The other to reach the business end of the competition with a 100 per cent record was South Korea's Jisu Joon, who will go up against Greece’s Marina Paizi in her first knockout match tomorrow.

The event is due to last until next Sunday (July 19) in the Russian capital, with the men’s and women’s sabre finals due to take place tomorrow evening.

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