Concerns about the sport of fencing

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - For many years, Thanh Hoa's fencing team has made continuous efforts and affirmed its position in the domestic arena. However, this Olympic sport is facing a major challenge in maintaining its performance due to a severe shortage of training equipment.

Fencing athletes train diligently at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center. Photo: Anh Tuan.

The fencing department of Thanh Hoa province was established in 2017. Compared to localities with a strong tradition in this sport such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, etc., Thanh Hoa is about 10 years behind.

In its early days, the sport faced numerous difficulties, from selecting athletes for the first youth team to lacking equipment and training tools. At that time, the Thanh Hoa fencing team, consisting of more than 10 people including coaches and students, only had two swords for training and competition. In 2021, to meet the development requirements of the sport for the 2021-2025 period, Coach Nguyen Van Dung from the taekwondo team was entrusted with the responsibility of being the head of the fencing department.

Fencing is unique in that its recruitment process is much later than many other sports. Athletes are selected at the age of 10-12 and need to possess intelligent thinking, all-around abilities, and quick reflexes. In terms of physique, long arm reach and good height are preferred. To prepare for the future, developing a successor workforce is always a top priority, therefore, the sport is always focused on finding promising athletes.

“The coaches and collaborators of the team have overcome difficulties, traveling to various localities in the province to search for and select new talents for the sport. It is even more challenging because the students do not know much about this sport, and few families want their children to train in fencing. Therefore, during each athlete selection process, we try to explain thoroughly so that parents and children understand more about this sport and agree to let their children train,” shared Head Coach of Fencing Nguyen Van Dung.

Furthermore, the issue of insufficient training swords and limited competition opportunities remains a constant concern. According to regulations, the State provides funding and mechanisms for purchasing swords, but the difficulty lies in the fact that there are no facilities or factories in Vietnam that produce them, as swords are classified as sporting weapons, requiring strict import regulations. Meanwhile, domestic production is also not permitted due to specific standards from the International Fencing Federation regarding training and competition equipment. This type of equipment is considered "sensitive" and therefore requires even stricter control. Consequently, athletes are currently training with old, substandard swords or lacking adequate training equipment. This will undoubtedly affect the training and quality of the athletes' practice.

Domestically, to help address this issue, some teams send athletes abroad for training. However, the Thanh Hoa fencing team lacks the financial resources to participate in such programs. Furthermore, this is an expensive solution that doesn't benefit the majority of athletes. In the long term, a mechanism is still needed to ensure that fencing athletes receive the necessary equipment.

Faced with these difficulties, the national fencing team refused to back down. The coaches and athletes made every effort, creating their own training equipment, such as simulated equipment and fencing tools, to enhance the athletes' training feel. They also researched and studied many effective training exercises and techniques from international fencers, discussing and applying them in practice. Furthermore, to improve the athletes' skills, the fencing team actively participated in tournaments from the youth to the national level. Tournaments such as the National Youth Championships, the National U23 Championships, and the National Championships provided opportunities for athletes to gain experience and compete in a professional environment.

Currently, the Thanh Hoa fencing team has 1 coach, 5 provincial-level athletes, 4 youth athletes, and 13 talented athletes. In the national team, Thanh Hoa contributes 3 promising athletes who have proven their skills and consistently won gold medals in recent years: Nguyen Quoc Viet Anh and Nguyen Thi Anh Thu in foil, and Bui Xuan Luc in sabre. In addition, the young and talented athletes are also receiving good training and are considered to have the potential to go far.

From their first medals at the youth and U23 championships in 2022, Thanh Hoa fencing team won their first gold medal in the mixed foil event at the 2023 National Championships. Also at the 2023 National Youth Fencing Championships, the team won 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Following that initial success, in 2024, Thanh Hoa fencing won 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals at the National Youth Championships; 1 gold and 2 bronze medals at the National Championships; and 1 bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Championships. In 2025, at the National Youth Fencing Championships, Thanh Hoa ranked second overall with 3 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze medals. This achievement is not only a recognition of their efforts to overcome difficulties but also a driving force for the team's continued strong development.

Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Head of the Training Management Department at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, stated: “Fencing has been striving to develop its strengths and affirm its potential despite facing numerous challenges regarding experience, team building and development, and a lack of training equipment. Along with the efforts of the coaches and athletes, the center will continue to focus on and invest in facilities, promoting the training of athletes at all levels of the national team. This is a crucial stage in building and strengthening the next generation of athletes for the future, especially in preparation for the 10th National Sports Games in 2026. At the same time, we will create opportunities for the athletes to participate in training and competitions. Through this, the coaching staff will screen the pool of talent, identify promising athletes, and invest strategically in them for the coming years.”

Mr. Tuan

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tran-tro-bo-mon-dau-kiem-254681.htm