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Iranian fencers at crest in Thailand open championship

Wednesday, 21 September 2016 12:58 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 21 September 2016 12:58 PM ]

Iran's Islamic Azad University fencing team

Male and female Iranian student fencers have displayed extraordinary skills and composure during the 2016 Thailand Open Fencing Championships, and clinched a dozen medals to emerge as the champions of the international sporting event.

On Tuesday, the epee team of the Islamic Azad University, comprising Ali Yaghoubian, Hossein Ja’fari and Mohammad Ali Kayhani, prevailed a team of representatives from the host nation and stood on the top podium at Fashion Island Shopping Mall in Khan Na Yao district of the Thai capital Bangkok.

The epee is the modern derivative of the dueling sword used in fencing. As a thrusting weapon, the epee is similar to a foil, but has a stiffer blade, which is triangular in cross-section with a V-shaped groove called a fuller, has a larger bell guard and is heavier.

There are no rules regarding priority and right of way in the epee competitions, and the entire body is a valid target area.

The Iranian men’s sabre team, which had Mojtaba Abedini, Ali Pakdaman and Farzad Baher in its line-up, raced past Thailand in the last encounter to receive the gold medal.

Additionally, Motahhareh Mohseni, Sarvenaz Mortazavi and Negin Kafi took part in women's foil team event, and earned a silver medal.

The 2016 Thailand Open Fencing Championships started in Bangkok on September 16 and finished on September 20.

The five-day-long tournament brought together dozens of male and female fencers from Belgium, Britain, France, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

Fencers from the Islamic Azad University represented Iran in the event.

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