Chongqing - On June 29, the 2024 Chongqing Youth Fencing Championship kicked off at the YUE Sports Chongqing International Expo Youth Sports Center's fencing hall and multifunctional gymnasium.

On June 29, the 2024 Chongqing Youth Fencing Championship kicked off at the YUE Sports Chongqing International Expo Youth Sports Center's fencing hall and multifunctional gymnasium. (Photo/The event organizer)

The event features three fencing categories: epee, foil, and saber. Competitions are held across five age groups in both individual and team events, with 28 pistes laid out for the participants.

To ensure fairness, justice, and safety, the event invited Professor Zhao Chuanjie from Shanghai University of Sport, an international referee and deputy director of the Chinese Fencing Association Referee Committee, to serve as the technical committee director and chief referee. The referee team comprises 37 members, including two international referees, five national referees, 12 first-class referees, seven second-class referees, 9 A-level referees, and 2 B-level referees, ensuring smooth competition progress.

Promoting the development of fencing in Chongqing

Since the event was first held at the Chongqing International Expo Center in 2020, it has attracted over 3,200 fencers to showcase their skills and achieve remarkable results. This year's two-day event has drawn nearly 700 participants and 174 teams across the city.

Wang Feng, a technical committee member and referee at the championship for the fourth time, remarked on the rapid development of fencing in Chongqing. "The venue here is top-notch and meets some world-class competition standards, making it a pleasure for participants," he said. "In just under five years, the number of participants has multiplied, indicating great development in the sport."

Wang Feng, a technical committee member and referee at the 2024 Chongqing Youth Fencing Championship. (Photo/The event organizer)

Wang Feng said that despite starting late, Chongqing has built a solid foundation and shows strong momentum, surpassing neighboring cities in development speed. The city has become one of the national training bases for the Fencing Association, thanks to efforts from the government, businesses, and other stakeholders. Currently, fencing is included in the Chongqing Municipal Games, and a team has been formed to participate in national competitions, aiming for sustained progress and high-quality development of the sport.

Song Wenjie, a national athlete, former head coach of the Hong Kong women's foil team, and head coach of the Chongqing International Expo Center Fencing Hall, mentioned that the number of young fencers in Chongqing has improved significantly. The sports center has partnered with nearly ten primary and secondary schools to build professional teams, sparking enthusiasm for competitive sports among youth and nurturing well-rounded fencing talents.

On June 29, the 2024 Chongqing Youth Fencing Championship kicked off at the YUE Sports Chongqing International Expo Youth Sports Center's fencing hall and multifunctional gymnasium. (Photo/The event organizer)

Building a diverse sports-education integration

At the competition, athletes in fencing uniforms focused intently on their opponents, with the audience closely following their every move. Each clash of swords brought clear metallic sounds, quickening spectators' heartbeats. Huang Haoxuan, an experienced competitor, demonstrated calmness. Having started practicing foil in the fourth grade and now in his first year of high school, he has achieved excellent results in previous competitions.

Huang's mother, Luo Hong, said that trying various sports led them to choose foil, making them among the first batch of Chongqing youth practicing fencing. With consistent effort, Huang has qualified for Tsinghua University's high-level fencing team. They aim for balanced development in academics and fencing, hoping to achieve their goals through hard work.

A "How to Get into Macao University Through Fencing" sharing session was held alongside the competition. Lu Wende, the head coach of the Macau University fencing team, emphasized the long-term benefits of fencing and urged students to balance training with studies.

Lu Wende is the head coach of the Macau University fencing team. (Photo/The event organizer)

He Dachao, Deputy Director of the Sports Department at Chongqing Luneng Bashu Middle School, praised the venue, hoping it becomes an international exchange window for fencing events. The YUE Sports Chongqing International Expo Youth Sports Center is a national model for sports-education integration, offering comprehensive facilities and collaborations with top institutions like the French Professional Football League (LFP). With a top-tier faculty and full-cycle sports programs, the center aims to support the holistic development of young athletes, providing them with excellent education and growth opportunities.

The event is jointly organized by the Chongqing Sports Bureau, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, and Chongqing Yuelai Investment Group Co., Ltd., with support from the Liangjiang New Area Management Committee and Yubei District Government.