Coutya and Gilliver make perfect start to Sao Paulo World Cup

Paralympians Dimitri Coutya and Piers Gilliver took yet another step on their journeys to Tokyo 2020 as the pair were in the medals on day one of the latest IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup.

European champion Coutya took gold in the foil B, while Rio silver medallist Gilliver scooped bronze in the sabre A category in the Sao Paulo meet, from which points that contribute towards Paralympic qualification are earned.

Coutya beat seeds Marco Cima and Timur Khamatshin on his way to setting up a final with favourite Albert Kamalov, where he continued his winning run.

In the sabre A category, Gilliver topped the fancied Maxim Shaburov before being edged by second seed Andrii Demchuk in his semi-final, earning his bronze medal alongside Italian Edoardo Giordan as Hungary’s Richard Osvath took top spot.

Elsewhere, Matthew Campbell-Hill finished 18th in the sabre A, while Gemma Collis-McCann was 15th in the epee A and Justine Moore 21st in the epee B.

Competition continues this evening, with Coutya, Collis-McCann, Oliver Lam-Watson and Shah Rashid all in action.