International Fencers Gather in Seoul

The world’s top fencers have gathered in Korea.

A total of 315 fencers from 30 countries are participating in the 2007 SK Telecom International Grand Prix Fencing Championships held at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu for three days starting May 4.

The media’s focus is on the Korean women’s fleuret team, which won gold medals in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Korean Women’s Fleuret Team Aiming to Advance to Semifinals–

On May 4, the court for women’s fleuret qualifying matches was full of shouts and the sound of metal clashing against metal. A total of 114 women fencers are competing to qualify for the final selection of 64 fencers. The fencer ranked 64th will play against the world’s number one ranked fleuret fencer Nam Hyun-hee (Seoul City Hall) in matches to be held the next day.

“Peanut fencer” Nam came to the court for practice. She said, “I did not practice much because of an injury. I’ll try to win by making surprise attacks.”

The national women’s fleuret team head coach Kim Yeong-ho said, “The world’s top fencers have similar abilities. Our goal is to advance to the semifinals.” He counted Nam, Seo Mi-jeong (Gangwon Provincial Office), and Ianna Rouzavina, a Russian fencer ranked 3rd, as the top candidates for the individual match championship.

The men’s and women’s team matches will be held on May 6, following the men’s and women’s fleuret individual match final on May 5.

Different Rules for Different Disciplines–

Fencing is divided into three disciplines according to the weapons used: foil, epee, and saber. In foil and epee, a fencer can win by stabbing the opponent with the point, while in sabre, the sides can be used to cut.

Each weapon has a different target area. The target area in foil is the torso; in sabre, everything from the waist up except for the hands is a target; and in epee, anywhere on the body can be hit. Fencers need 5 points to win in qualifying matches and 15 points in three rounds for three minutes in matches from quarterfinals and up. A one-minute overtime is given for a tie, and if it is still a tie after the overtime, the winner is decided by a drawing.

In team competitions, four fencers (one being a replacement) form a team, and each of the three starting fencers play three rounds in three minutes to try to make 5 points.

beetlez@donga.com