Italy's foil team has set their eyes on the most ambitious goal at the approaching London Olympics -- to win all the medals at stake in both men's and women's competitions.

The team head coach, Stefano Cerioni, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, "Both my men's and women's teams are of the best ones ever, and it's amazing to be coaching eight fencers knowing that they all stand good chance to win gold medals in London."

Cerioni, the Olympic gold medalist in the 1988 Seoul games, was very satisfied of how things are going. "We are also gratified to know that they will not meet each other until the semi-final or final stage."

The women's side which boasts three fencers ranked among world top four, is supposed to have a brighter prospect.

"Vezzali and Di Francisca are world No. 1 and 2 and they are expected to meet in the final which would be a repeat of last year's World Championships final. But I would also keep a close watch on Errigo who has made some amazing progresses and is very focused too," said Cerioni.

Cerioni, being confident, would not under-estimate the task his sides are to face in London.

"You know, the Olympics are a special event. It happens every four years and I think every participant wants to win. Fencing is quick, anything can happen in few assaults and if you are not concentrated, you're doomed," he said.

His men's side enjoys the similar advantage of having four world top-ranked fencers, who would take a shot at a sweep on the podium.

"A sweep is a very difficult goal and I am happy that all the athletes are in a really good shape and are all aware of their strength," he said.

Fencing is a sport involving talent,technique and mental strength, the essentials Valentina Vezzali demonstrated over her long career. For Cerioni, it's not easy to have all his fencers at the top form in the same event.

"I know that right now they are all at good forms. But a lot of things can happen as the Olympics are approaching. I know it very well from my personal experience of being an athlete, a master as well as the head coach of the national team. And now I could not tell who of them is in a better shape, and I believe believe they all have a serious chance to win at both the individual and the team events," he said.

Cerioni chose not to name any favorites from his proteges.

"If two of them compete against each other, our policy is to let them battle and we coaches sit in the stands to watch, and let the better one win," he said.

His fencers are different characters with different strengths, the former Olympic champion said.

"Vezzali is a perfect athlete, she has made history and could achieve more at the London Olympics by winning two more golds," he said.

"She is for sure the strongest ever female foil fencer, the one to beat in London. She is so focused now that even I am surprised at how she can still keep being so strong after so many years."

Cerioni hinted Di Francisca is the one who could knock Vezzali off the track in London.

"Di Francisca has reached her top form. Though this is her Olympic debut, I consider her as one of the most experienced fencers in Italy now. She proved she can beat anyone, including Vezzali," the head coach said.

Errigo could turn from the underdog to dark horse springing some surprise at the Olympics, according to Cerioni.

"Arianna Errigo is the underdog but she made so much progresse over the last year, I would definitely not be surprised to see her beat any opponent. I think that she has what it takes to win the gold. She might be the big surprise in London and we know she can do it," he said.

His men's side is less strong and should work harder for their goals at the Olympics.

"I think there are about twelve fencers who can win the individual gold, and my three fencers are among them," Cerioni said.

At the London Olympics, the Italian men foil team will be spearheaded by Andrea Cassara, the reigning world champion.

"Cassara is now ranked Number 1 in the world, and is very focused. But sometimes he could be too emotional to control himself," Cerioni said.

"If he stays focused and compete like what he did at the last year's World championship, he's very hard to beat."

Valerio Aspromonte, the World Number 2, is also an emotional fencer, according to Cerioni, and "needs to work on his emotions. This is his main weakness."

Andrea Baldini may be the most motivated Italian foil fencer due to an misjudged doping accident that cost his chance to participate in the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

"Baldini missed the Beijing games four years ago for an unfortunate accident and now could be his time. I see that he is focusing well and is channeling his tension in the right way," said Cerioni.

The head coach singled out China as his men's side main opponent in the teams event.

"China is stronger as team than individually and they proved it at last year's World Championships. Ma Jianfei and Lei Sheng are at top level. I am not sure who will be their third fencer. I think they will choose the more experienced Zhu Jun who finished fourth in Beijing at the individual competition," said Cerioni.

He was confident that both his men's and women's side are well-equipped to win the team golds.

"I think we have the right mixtures of talents, experience and expertise to be able to change a match in between bouts. The team event can be sometimes tricky but I believe we are very well prepared to win," he said.