Great Britain’s Piers Gilliver claimed the men’s sabre category A title as action begun today at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup in Pisa in Italy ©Federazione Italiana Scherma/Facebook

Great Britain's Piers Gilliver claimed the men's sabre category A title as action begun today at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation Wheelchair Fencing World Cup in Pisa in Italy.

Gilliver, a Paralympic and world silver medallist in men's épée, beat Ukraine's Andrii Demchuk 15-12 in the final at the Via Federico Chiarugi.

He had earlier defeated Italy's Edoardo Giordan 15-4 in the semi-finals.

Joining Giordan on the third step of the podium was Russia's Maxim Shaburov, who lost 15-13 to Demchuk in the other last-four encounter.

Coming into the event, where qualification points for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, Gilliver stated he was keen to improve in sabre.

"I've only been training in this for a couple of years and so I'm keen to keep progressing and increasing my sabre podium appearances," he said.

Also coming out victorious today was China's Bian Jing in the women's épée category A event.

Bian overcame Hungary's Amarilla Veres 15-9 in the final.

China's Bian Jing came out victorious in the women's épée category A event ©Getty Images
China's Bian Jing came out victorious in the women's épée category A event ©Getty Images

The bronze medals went to Ukraine's Yevheniia Breus and China's Zou Xufeng.

There was also success for China in the men's foil category B competition.

Hu Daoliang beat compatriot Feng Yanke 15-11 in the final.

Russia's Albert Kamalov and France's Maxime Valet rounded out the podium.

Today's one other winner was Thailand's Saysunee Jana in the women's épée category B event.

She defeated Russia's Viktoria Boykova 15-9 in the final.

Taking home the bronze medals were Belarus' Alesia Makrytskaya and Russia's Ludmila Vasileva.

Action in Pisa is due to continue tomorrow.