Dimitri Coutya was named one of the best wheelchair fencers of 2019 ©Getty Images

International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing has published the list of the athletes who topped their respective classifications in 2019. 

Fencers from nine different countries topped the respective rankings last year in all weapons, age groups and categories.

The awards are normally distributed in July at a Wheelchair Fencing World Cup event, but will now be handed out in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Britain's Piers Gilliver was the winner in both the men’s Category A sabre and épée, with 168 and 222 points respectively.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic silver medallist reached the World Cup podium 12 times in 2019 and added his first world title, claiming the épée crown in Cheongju in South Korea.

He was joined by his compatriot Dimitri Coutya among the accolades. 

Coutya was named the best athlete in the men's Category B foil and épée. 

Italy's Bebe Vio was named the best athlete in the women's category B foil ©Getty Images
Italy's Bebe Vio was named the best athlete in the women's category B foil ©Getty Images

In the women's events, Poland's Kinga Drozdz ranked highest in the Category A sabre, despite only making her wheelchair fencing debut last year. 

Chinese athletes topped the rankings in the Category A foil and épée courtesy of Rong Jing and Zou Xufeng.

Rong, the reigning foil Paralympic champion, earned her first world title in 2019. 

Compatriot Zou also earned a world title in the épée and finished on the podium of every World Cup event she entered. 

World and Paralympic gold medallist Bebe Vio won the category B foil with an impressive 240 points.

The Italian is unbeaten across five World Cups.