Fencing targets 2020 Olympic medals

By Johnson Were

Fencing is an individual sport where two adversaries face off using swords to score points by striking certain body parts.

The points are scored on the upper body parts including the head, hands and stomach or ribs, with the athlete required to wear protective set of uniform with a head gear.

Whenever an athlete scores a point an electric signal is sent to the scoring board.

Because of the advantage of being easy to win medals the National Fencing governing body (UFA) has vowed to identify and train medal winning athletes by 2020 Olympics in Tokyo Japan.

Uganda Fencing Association executive member Casbert Onyango explains how the equiment works during a press briefing at UOC  offices in Lugogo. Looking on is the Federation Secretary Carolynne Adongo (L) and Vice President Kenneth Onyango. PHOTO BY JOHNSON WERE

UFA general Secretary Carolynne Adongo disclosed this to the media in a press briefing held at Uganda Olympic committee offices in Lugogo.

Adongo said that the federation formed in 2006 was lagging behind because it did not have coaches to train athletes and besides that the equipment used is very expensive, but now that they have got assistance from the world body, work is going to go on.

"We have acquired two qualified coaches but our strategy is now looking at 2020 Olympics and we shall send our athletes to international competitions  like Africa championships, World Championship so  that they improve on their skills," Adongo stated.

She explained that they have signed up a partnership with Gems Cambridge School and are in talks with Greenhill Academy and SMACK to see that the sport is taken into these schools calendar.

The vice chairman Kenneth Oringo added that they are going to apply for more equipment donations from the world body (UFA) so that they can take the sport to even more schools.

UFA gave a donation of equipment worth sh11m, with the Uganda Olympic committee clearing taxes amounting to sh6m.

"We are going to organise several international workshops for coaches, referees, technical staff and volunteers," Oringa added.

The Fencing association was formed in 2006 but was not active till last year 2014 when it was affiliated to the world body.