'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Thiruvananthapuram; October 28th; 2014:
Fencing players representing Kerala are ready to take on the National champions in the 35th National Games. The training camp of Kerala team is live as the count-down for the Games has begun.
Mr. Radhakrishnan, India’s first fencing coach is training the 24 member. Anand and Arjun who had won Asian Varsity Fencing Championship 2009 held Singapore are also undergoing rigorous training in the camp. Both men and women fencing competitions are scheduled at the CIAL Convention Center, Kochi.
Fencing competitions are categorised into epee, foil, and sabre - the three types of swords used for fighting. The rules are different for each format of the game. The sword has to touch the opponent's body with a prescribed level of force. The thrust will be detected by an electronic sensor attached to the sword through which the points earned will be displayed on a screen nearby.
The swords used in fencing are very expensive with prices of the blades starting from Rs 21,000.
Bhavani Devi, a specialist in using the sabre sword, has won most of the championships in India. Though she is from Tamil Nadu, she has been representing Kerala for the last few years. She is the reigning national champion and a three-time Federation Cup winner. She had won an individual bronze and team silver at the junior Commonwealth championship held in London.
In the 24 member Kerala team, 14 fencers are from different state. They have been representing Kerala in the last five years at the international meet like Asian Games, SAF Games and Commonwealth Games, which underscore the strength of the team. All are looking forward to the upcoming National Games.
Claramma who was the Gold Medal winner of Manipur National Games in 2001-2002 is also expected to participate in 35th National Games. The tussle between the Gold winners of 34th National Games L Samashaki Devi, M Sandhyarani Devi, Kripal, Vijay, Deepak and Basant with the Kerala team will make the contest lively.
