Italy improved on last year’s runners-up finish to claim women’s team foil gold at the FIE World Championships in Leipzig ©FIE/Facebook/Bizzi-Trifiletti

Italy improved on last year’s runners-up finish to claim women’s team foil gold at the International Fencing Federation World Championships in Leipzig.

The quartet of Martina Batini, Arianna Errigo, Camilla Mancini and Alice Volpi beat the United States’ Lee Kiefer, Margaret Lu, Nzingha Prescod and Nicole Ross 45-25 in the final at Arena Leipzig.

Russia were unable to defend their crown as Inna Deriglazova, Anastasia Ivanova, Svetlana Tripapina and Adelina Zagidullina lost 45-42 to the US in the semi-finals.

They recovered, however, to defeat hosts Germany 45-29 in the bronze medal match.

South Korea beat Hungary in the men's team sabre final ©FIE/Facebook/Bizzi-Trifiletti
South Korea beat Hungary in the men's team sabre final ©FIE/Facebook/Bizzi-Trifiletti

In the men's team sabre competition, South Korea's Kim Jun-ho, Kim Jung-hwan, Oh Sang-uk and Gu Bon-gil clinched the gold medal with a 45-22 win over Hungary's András Szatmári, Csanád Gémesi, Áron Szilágyi and Tamás Decsi. 

Hungary had earlier posted a 45-44 semi-final victory over Italy’s Enrico Berrè, Dario Cavaliere, Luca Curatoli and Luigi Samele, who came away with the bronze medal thanks to a 45-40 win over fellow beaten semi-finalists the US.

Reigning champions Russia and last year's bronze medallists Romania both suffered quarter-final elimination at the hands of South Korea and the US respectively. 

Action in Leipzig is due to continue tomorrow with the men's team épée and women's team sabre events.