On the journey to the Olympics – National fencing Championships 2014.

The National fencing championship organized by the National Association of Fencing Sri Lanka is to be held on the 30th and 31st of October in Rathmalana. A media conference was held today at the Olympic house Colombo to brief the media on the proceedings of the championship.

The Championships which is to be held for the third year since 2012 is organized by the ‘National Association of Fencing, Sri Lanka (NAFSL) and will be held on the 30th and 31st of October 2014 in Rathmalana. The National Association of Fencing initiated the National Fencing Championships to provide a competitive platform for fencers in Sri Lanka. With growth in stature of the sport in Sri Lanka the number of participants have increased gradually each year. Although the sport of fencing is rather new in the island it is an established sport in the modern day Olympics, fencing was introduced in the year 2008 in aim of someday wining gold at the Olympics. The NAFSL took steps to host the 2013 National Championships in Galle, taking the sport to audiences who may not otherwise have access to the sport.

At the head table was Kasuni Silva the secretary general of the National Fencing Association of Sri Lanka (NAFSL), the president of the NAFSL Mr. Dian Gomes, Mr. Maxwell De Silva representing the national Olympic committee, Mr. Eranga Fonseka the Chairperson of the organizing committee and the national fencing coach Mr. Sha Ganesan.

Mr. Gomes in the opening address stressed on the fact that the stage is set and that we have all what it takes to place at the Olympics. He said “fencing is not a sport that requires strength or a heavy build, you only need the determination and the skill and we have it”. On the long term plans on an angle of the sport the chairman said “by 2024, 10 years from now we would have all the infrastructure and everything we need to be noticed in the world stage”. Funding for fencing in Sri Lanka is done by mainly private firms and individuals, MAS Holdings have taken the lead in this matter and has inculcated the sport in many of its factories around the island while ensuring that the athletes are well looked after and guided financially as we as in a sports aspect. “We have transformed an elite sport into a poor man’s sport where anyone can access, all we need is more support from the authorities and the government” said Mr. Gomes appealing for the most needed support.

Fencing although is new to the country many believe that this could be a port where Sri Lanka could bring home a medal from the Olympics in the near future.

The 2014 Nationals will comprise 8 medal events as follows:

Foil Men – Individual 

Foil Women – Individual

Epee Men – Individual

Epee Women – Individual

Sabre Men – Individual

Sabre Women – Individual

Mixed Weapon Men – Team 

Mixed Weapon Women – Team

Awards

The fencers will compete for a total of 24 individual medals and 32 team medals as follows:

Individual Events:

Team Events