RP HOSTS ASIAN FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pasig City, Oct. 28, 1998 - The Philsports Fencing Hall will be the venue of the 5th Asian Youth Fencing Championships which will be hosted by the Philippines from November 16 to 20. Ten countries are participating, led by China, Japan and Korea.
The foreign teams wrote to Philippine Amateur Fencers Association (Pafa) president Celso Dayrit last week to confirm their participation. Also confirmed were Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Thailand and the Philippines, which will field in the most number of entries at 45 on a privilege granted by the Asian Fencing Confederation. Being awaited are confirmations from teams representing Saudi Arabia and Singapore, which were also invited to the meet.
Expected at the championships are more than 150 competitors, the biggest ever gathering of fencers in local soil and the first ever Asian level competition in the sport to be held in the Philippines.
Dayrit said at least five junior fencers who will also compete in the Asiad my be fielded in the meet, including Walbert Mendoza who upset veteran Richard De Guzman in the men's individual sabre championship of last week's Dayrit Cup.
Other junior athletes who have already made their marks in international competitions include Ramil Endriano, WilfredoViscayno, Avelino Victorino and Rolando Canlas. The all-weapons event will feature competitions in cadet foil for boys and girls, cadet epee for boys and girls, cadet sabre, junior foil for boys and girls, junior epee for boys and girls and junior sabre.
The event will also serve as the qualifying for the World Youth Fencing Championships to be held next year. Only athletes 20-years and younger will qualify for the meet.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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