Fillip to game of fencing

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Fencing has crossed the sphere of obscurity and is a happening sport in Kerala in recent years. Since the National Games in Jharkhand, fencers have had enviable achievements in almost every level of the competition they have crossed swords.

Viewed against this backdrop, it is in the fitness of things that they are offered sponsorship for the Commonwealth Junior Championship in the United Kingdom later this month.

With the growing popularity of the sport, better schemes are necessary. It is with this in mind that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to include fencing in its list of Centre of Excellence (CoE) Sports at its main centre in the state at LNCPE, Thiruvananthapuram.

The other sports that have the status under SAI here are athletics, cycling, volleyball and swimming. At present, successes from fencing in Kerala are in spite of the modest facilities it has at the SAI centre in Thalassery where 17 women fencers, including national gold medalist Bhavani Devi train under their coach Sagar Lagu.

The state’s fencers had bagged five medals including two gold medals at the national games held last February and went on to better the show by amassing five gold, one silver and two bronze at the recently concluded national senior and junior championships. “We have planned to include fencing in the CoE list as it is fast gaining popularity in the state,” said G. Kishore , head of SAI in Kerala.

“As per our policy, the athletes will be opted out of their scheme after 21 years. It means their training also stops there. But, in order to help them continue in the sport, we are seeking the CoE status for fencing so that they can use the best facilities,” he said. However, once the CoE status is given, the fencing facility now available at Thalassery will be shifted to the main SAI centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

Coach Sagar is delighted by the news and said it will help the fencers in the coming years. “At present, there are at least four fencers giving their best performance, who will cross the age of 21 next year.

Once the CoE status is given, these fencers’ career will be secure and they can continue having access to a better facility,” said Sagar.

The main drawbacks of the facility at Thalassery are shortage of equipment and lack of a fencing hall. These problems will be solved once the facility is shifted to LNCPE campus, says Sagar.