SPORT TRENDS: Fencing on a good start

Fencing is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of any age and offers a horde of benefits. It is a physical and mental sport that requires fencers to hone their strategies against opponents of varying skills. Through Fencing, participants build up physical endurance and agility.

In Botswana, the sport of Fencing was introduced in the year 2008 and became active in 2014 during the Gaborone Africa Youth Games, thereafter recruitment of more participants into the sport kick started through the Botswana Fencing Federation. One of the most anticipated championships in the Botswana Fencing Federation calendar of events is the Fencing National Championship, hosted annually for national team selection. The 2023 championship was hosted over the weekend at the University of Botswana in Gaborone.

The event opened the Botswana Fencing Federation calendar with a bang, as Fencers of different ages and skill levels gathered to compete for the chance to represent the country at the Fencing Cadet and Junior Championship in Ghana.

According to the Botswana Fencing Federation Public Relations Director, Ms Thabile Pilane, the national championship is hosted annually to conduct a national team selection based on points obtained during the past year. The 2023 championship was hosted to select a team that will represent Botswana at the Fencing Cadet and Junior Championships which will be Ghana.

Pilane highlighted that it is critical that they obtain sponsorship to send a team to the event in Ghana as it will help in their development through attraction and retention of athletes, especially by demonstrating to the parents the benefits of participating in Fencing and the efforts being made to grow the sport.

The 2023 national championship event was divided into different categories. Koketso Masena emerged victorious in the senior men epee category, Lebone Mosinyi won the junior men epee category while Katso Lesejane won the junior women epee category.

The cadet men epee category was won by Rethabile Mabaka, Katso Lesejane won the cadet women epee category and Koketso Masena won the senior men foil category. Pilane also added that following the post they had issued out last year, they also had recruits at the event.

The recruits will be joining the federation as national referees with the vision of hosting a referee’s clinic during the year. Pilane was delighted that despite the challenges they encountered during the planning process, the Federation was able to overcome them and achieve a successful outcome. The event was supported by Evoluenergy International.