Italy’s Julia Anna Markowska achieved the ultimate in Para Fencing World Cup accolades on Wednesday (19 March), reaching the top of the podium for the first time back where it all began – in Hungary.

Markowska made her debut in Eger in 2019 before going on to claim her first individual World Cup medal – silver – in the same venue six years later. On Wednesday, this time in Budapest, Markowska was the queen of the women’s epee category B.

The Italian broke down in tears while reflecting on the significance of her victory, saying she felt: “Very sparkily!”

“I’m so emotional…for me it’s very important because everything started here. I’m very happy. My first international competition for the Italian team was in Eger, the second competition [I competed at] in Eger I won a silver medal and the third one I win the gold. It’s amazing.”

“I feel very great today,” Markowska continued. “I had less anxiety than usual. I started the warm-up more powerful than usual. I was able to show all the work I did until today. I wanted to show that off and I guess I made it!”

Neutral Para Athlete, Alexandra Iliminskaya, was the silver medallist, equalling her best ever result in the weapon.

Poland’s Karolina Strawinska and Hong Kong, China’s Nga Ting Tong collected their latest World Cup medals, taking third place.

Markowska was later joined in the Italian celebrations by men’s foil category A World Championships bronze medallist Emanuele Lambertini.

Lambertini was last golden in the foil at a World Cup in 2022. Since then Para fencers like Türkiye’s Hakan Akkaya have come to the fore. And it was Akkaya who Lambertini had to get past for gold at the BOK Arena, proving he can still have the edge against his occasional training partner and friend.

“I did nothing too crazy. I stayed focused on myself,” Lambertini said. “The main objective was to stay relaxed, to feel good in myself no aches no pain. I always focused on the hand, on the point, on my opponent and this was apparently enough for me to win today.”

Hungary were able to see their national flag raised at home courtesy of hero Richard Osvath who took bronze alongside China’s Li Hao.

Chinese teammates Xufeng Zou and Jing Bian went head-to-head in the women’s epee category A, with Zou emerging the victor over Bian who was returning to the piste after a few years away.

Spain’s Judith Rodriguez secured her latest medal with bronze. France’s Clemence Delavoipiere meanwhile took the first of her career, also occupying third place.

Great Britain’s Paralympic, world and European champion added his latest silverware to his trophy cabinet with gold in the men’s foil category B.

After his match, Coutya encouraged fans at home to come and watch him at his home European Championships in Cardiff in October.

Italy’s Michele Massa was the silver medallist, adding a third podium finish for Italy on the opening day in Eger.

Brazil’s Rio 2016 epee silver medallist, Jovane Guissone, appears to have hit a rich vein of form in the foil, taking his second consecutive podium finish of year with bronze.  Ukraine’s Oleg Naumenko repeated his performance from the 2025 World Cup edition in Eger with bronze.

The Budapest 2026 Para Fencing World Cup will continue on Thursday (19 March) with the men’s epee and women’s sabre.

Pictures from the second World Cup of the season are available to download for editorial use here.