Ota writes name into history books by claiming Japan's first-ever World Fencing Championships title

Japan's Yuki Ota became his country's first-ever World Fencing Championships gold medallist by taking the foil title in Moscow ©Getty Images

Yuki Ota became the first Japanese fencer to claim an International Fencing Federation (FIE) World Championships title as he clinched gold in the men’s individual foil competition with a 15-10 victory over American Alexander Massialas in Moscow.

The 29-year-old, an Olympic silver medallist in the team foil event at London 2012, proved too strong for Massialas to secure his maiden individual world crown.

Ota got off to a fine start, keeping his opponent at bay while constantly landing touches, and he was able to maintain that advantage throughout to claim an historic victory for both himself and Japan as a country.

Earlier in the day, Ota, who also won individual silver at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, overcame another American, Gerek Meinhardt, 15-9 to book his place in the final.

Massialas, meanwhile, secured his spot in the gold medal match by beating Russian Artur Akhmatkhuzin, a silver medallist at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, 15-10 in another close fought encounter.

Before Ota’s success, the best performance from Japan at the event had been a bronze medal but he ensured it would be a golden competition for his country with a well-deserved victory.

Both Meinhardt and Akhmatkhuzin took home bronze as well as 50 qualification points for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Russia's Inna Deriglazova claimed her maiden world title with victory over compatriot Aida Shanaeva in the women's gold medal match ©Getty Images

In the women’s event, Russia’s Inna Deriglazova sealed her first-ever world gold medal with a 15-11 triumph over compatriot Aida Shanaeva, bringing the Italian dominance of the foil discipline to an end.

The previous four world individual foil crowns had been won by Italian fencers, with Arriana Errigo claiming two successive golds and Elisa Di Francisca and Valentina Vezalli also topping the podium in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Deriglazova, winner of a team silver at London 2012, got the better of Shanaeva thanks to a controlled display which largely saw her dictate proceedings on the piste throughout.

The 25-year-old is now ranked at number three in the world and she reached the final by virtue of a narrow 15-13 victory over world number one Errigo.

Shanaeva ensured it would be an all-Russian gold medal contest with a 15-7 success in her semi-final with Nzingha Prescod of the United States.

The event is due to continue in Moscow tomorrow with team sabre finals and team epee qualification.