Irma Khetsuriani and Nina Tibilashvili claimed a win each for Georgia at the Para Fencing World Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday (20 February), sweeping both women’s sabre golds. 

Khetsuriani was back on top in the women’s sabre category B, topping the podium for the first time since 2023. 

Khetsuriani just edged her opponent, Neutral Para Athlete Anastasi Kastsiuchkova, by three points after executing a comeback. 

The Georgian is a consistent and serial World Cup medallist in the weapon and the gold is the 19th of her career. 

Italy’s Julia Markowska repeated her performance from her home World Cup in Pisa in November, claiming bronze. Neutral Para Athlete Kristina Fiaklistava joined her on the podium’s third spot. 

Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Nina Tibilashvili doubled-up on Georgia’s gold medal count in the category A, which also featured an appearance from Khetsuriani. 

It is a tradition in fencing for a national coach not to get involved in coaching during a match if both fencers are from the same country. So instead Khetsuriani stepped into those shoes, appearing during the break to give both Tibilashvili and her teamate and opponent Gvantsa Zadishvili a friendly pep-talk. 

Tibilashvili did not need it though, going onto to win the match 15-8. 

“The final was amazing, but a little sad. Gvantsa is my best friend! But this is fencing,” Tibilashvili said.  

Thailand’s Thiti Pengprasittipong took bronze whilst Brazil were delighted with a home medal delivered by Rayssa Veras. 

But whilst Brazil celebrated that bronze, they had even higher hopes for their talisman – Tokyo 2020 epee silver medallist Jovane Guissone – in the men’s foil category B. 

It was left to Italy’s Michele Massa to disappoint an expectant home crowd in a fantastic display of quality foil fencing in the final. 

Guissone showed his experience at multiple points, resisting Massa’s attempt to unsettle him. 

But whilst the Brazilian did keep his cool, Massa’s head was even cooler and more determined and he managed to stretch away to a 15-9 victory in the end.  

Italy’s Gianmarco Paolucci and Colombia’s Hector Barrios were the bronze medallists.

From a series of latest World Cup wins to a first, Japan’s Shintaro Kano triumphed over Thailand’s Boonsiri Sanitmuanwai in the men’s foil category A. 

Both men were competing in their first final at this level, but Sanitmuanwai had a tougher road and entered carrying an injury to his forearm which proved to be decisive. 

He had faced Germany’s Clemens Cursiefen in the semi-final, only just taking the win by two points to secure himself a shot on gold. 

In the final Kano was the stronger fencer but both men can be pleased with their results from Thursday. 

Cursiefen and Kano’s teammate, Naoki Yasu, were the bronze medallists. 

“It was a surprise for me!,” Kano said. “I am very appreciative to my teammates, coaches and friends. I have already started my road to LA 2028 and I will try to maintain my results.” 

The 2025 Para Fencing World Cup continues on Friday (21 February) with the women’s epee and men’s sabre. 

Full results and on-demand video are available at World Para Fencing’s website.