Inna Deriglazova’s incredible run has continued in Germany, winning her fourth World Cup event in a row at Tauberbishofsheim last weekend. To cap off a Russian one-two— her teammate Anastasia Ivanova was runner-up — the Rio Olympic champion also led her team to victory over France in the team competition.
Russia’s two-time World and 2016 Olympic champion Inna Deriglazova must now be the hottest favourite in history to reclaim gold at July’s World Championships in Budapest. Over the weekend in Tauberbishofsheim, Germany, she proved too good yet again for a high-class field, winning her fourth World Cup gold of the season (All in a row) and fifth victory of the year including March’s Grand Prix at Anaheim.
Coming up against her Russian teammate Anastasia Ivanova in the final, her defence was too good for her compatriot, and she took te victory 13-7. Previously, she defeated Italy’s Erica Cipressa, 15-11, and before that USA’s Jacqueline Dubrovnich, 15-10 in the quarterfinal — a first top ten finish for the American since the Shanghai Grand Prix twelve months ago, when she finished eighth.
In the other semifinal, Ivanov was too good for France’s Ysaora Thibus, winning 15-7 to ensure she claimed at least the silver, the best international result of her career, and one which moves her into a top ten ranking for the first time ever, having started the season ranked 82nd.
In the team event, Deriglazova and Ivanova were instrumental in claiming gold over a France team (45-33) that were too good for USA in the semifinal, reaching the championship bout with a 45-42 win. Russia had previously dispatched a strong Italian team containing perennial contenders Cipressa, Di Francisca, Batini and two-time world champion Arianna Errigo, 44-41.
FULL RESULTS
Individual Womens Foil
1. Inna Deriglazova (RUS, Gold)
2. Anastasia Ivanova (RUS, Silver)
3. Erica Cipressa (ITA, Bronze)
3. Ysaora Thibus (FRA, Bronze)
5. Arianna Errigo (ITA)
6. Yue Shi (CHN)
7. Jacqueline Dubrovich (USA)
8. Qingyuan Chen (CHN)
Team
1. Russia (Gold)
2. France (Silver)
3. Italy (Bronze)
4. USA
5. Japan
6. Canada
7. Poland
8. Korea.