Fencing to rise in popularity in China: FIE senior official

Emmanuel Katsiadakis, secretary general of the International Fencing Federation, in an interview with China Daily Website: "If you start fencing, you remain in fencing." [Photo by Xiao Da/chinadaily.com.cn]

Fencing is set to rise further in popularity in China on the back of Chinese athletes' stronger competitiveness in the world stage and an array of high-level tournaments held in the country, noted Emmanuel Katsiadakis, secretary general of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

Katsiadakis made the remarks in an interview with China Daily on Tuesday in Wuxi, as the 2018 World Fencing Championships takes place in the city in East China's Jiangsu province.

Fencing saw huge development in China after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, said Katsiadakis. "Thousands of people started to play fencing, to train and to participate in the competitions."

In the 2008 Olympic Games, Chinese sabre fencer Zhong Man claimed gold in the men's individual event, 24 years after the country's last crowning moment in the Los Angeles Games.

Katsiadakis believes that the growth in popularity shall be sustained in the country as "China goes up" in world rankings and more high-profile fencing events take place.

"In China, there were a few high-level tournaments held during the year, including the (ongoing) World Championships in Wuxi, which is very nice."

"I hope this trend can continue and more people get into fencing because if you start fencing, you remain in fencing." the FIE official said.

Fencing is a sport that might be too difficult and technically demanding for the audience to play, he said, but it is a good sport to watch not only for pleasure, but as a great help for people to concentrate.

"It is symbolic that this year's world fencing championships are held in a country with deep-rooted fencing traditions." he noted at the opening ceremony of the championships last Sunday.

The 2018 World Fencing Championships takes place in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province from July 19 to 27, 2018. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The art of swordsmanship was fairly widespread in ancient China, said Katsiadakis, which later evolved as a separate combat sport and as a major component of Chinese martial arts.

He highly acclaimed Wuxi's efforts in organizing the tournament, hailing it "a big surprise" for him. "For the first time the podium is electronic, you can see everything, including the names, scores, and timing on the giant LED screen. The venue for the final is unbelievably good." he said.

The championships, running until July 27, is seeing roughly 1,370 of the world's top fencers from 108 countries and regions competing in 12 individual and team events in epee, foil, and sabre.

In November 2015, Wuxi was awarded the rights to host the 2018 World Fencing Championships by the FIE, beating the Japanese city of Fukuoka with 69 votes against 47, to become the first city in China to hold the event.

The number of fencing athletes registered in China thus far has topped more than 1,000. About 100 fencing clubs and training centers are spread across the country with over 10,000 trainees, official data shows.