FENCING

Oman, Kenya join Lagos trains for Fencing World Cup

Published

10 minutes ago

December 10, 2024

Eslam Osama already in Lagos with the Egyptian team

Oman and Kenya are the latest teams to join the list of participating countries for the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup, scheduled for December 14-15 at Charterhouse Lagos.

The Asian contingent registered at the last minute for the first Fencing World Cup to be staged in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to improve their world ranking at the International Fencing Federation (FIE)-sanctioned tournament. Oman will be represented by Al Harith Salim, who will be accompanied by his coach.

Kenya is coming to Lagos with a 12-man team as part of their build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup, also taking place in Lagos.

The East African nation, which is rapidly gaining ground in the sport, joins the likes of Benin Republic, Togo, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and host Nigeria. The Saudi Arabian team, led by Hassan Abed, will have a
four-man squad.

Additionally, a strong eight-man team from Egypt, the top African fencing nation, is expected to arrive in Lagos this week to affirm their supremacy as the best-ranked team in the competition.

For America-based fencing world champion Mahmoud Elsayed of Egypt, the
tournament is crucial for his world ranking and securing his place in the Egyptian team. “The competition is crucial to both my world ranking and my position with the Egyptian national fencing team,” he said.

All is set for Charterhouse to host its first international sports tournament. The Nigeria Fencing Federation hopes to use the event to ignite a passion for fencing among young people across the country.

Adeyinka Samuel of the Nigeria Fencing Federation stated, “We are poised to host the world this week as months of preparation will be put to the test with the staging of the first World Cup in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“We hope this will ignite more interest in the sport and attract more well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies. We are excited about the quality of athletes coming to Lagos and hope our athletes compete favourably against top fencers, especially from Egypt and Hong Kong.”

FENCING

Egyptian Fencers target ranking points at World Cup in Lagos

Published

24 minutes ago

December 10, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The victorious Egyptian team from the 2022 Cadet and Junior African Fencing Championship will form the core of the contingent returning to Lagos for the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup from December 14 to 15.

Led by the talented Eslam Osama, the team aims to secure world-ranking points at this International Fencing Federation (FIE)-certified tournament.

The two-day event will be held at the Charterhouse in Lagos, featuring teams from Hong Kong, Benin Republic, Greece, Togo, Senegal, Ghana, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and host Nigeria.

This marks the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa with hosting rights for the World Cup.
World cadet silver medallist Osama, ranked No. 11 in the junior category, will spearhead the Egyptian challenge.

He will be joined by Youssef Shamel, ranked No. 13, and Mahmoud Elsayed, ranked No. 14. This experienced eight-man Egyptian contingent is eager to use the World Cup to amass ranking points and improve their standings ahead of the 2025 tournaments.

Hong Kong’s teenage sensation Kenton Jia Hsu ranked No. 18 in the world, will lead the four-man Asian team in their quest for ranking points and titles.

The participating teams are expected to arrive in Lagos this week for the weekend’s tournament.

All eyes will be on local favourite Wisdom Okanlawon, a former African cadet champion. Okanlawon will lead the Nigerian team, which includes Shemilore Fashola, Olumuyiwa Ige, Bade Martins, Kiibaati Opasanya, and the Idongesit siblings, Mahadi and Mahathir.

A determined Okanlawon expressed his readiness to lead Nigeria to a podium finish at home. “It won’t be easy, but we will do our best to make our country proud against our visitors. We hope to mount the podium in all events as a team,” the teenage star said.

Meanwhile, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) has named its Vice President, Donald Anthony of the United States, as the supervisor for the World Cup.

Additionally, Peter Smith, chairman of the Technical Committee of the Commonwealth Fencing Board, will be in Nigeria to assess the country’s readiness to host a Commonwealth Championship in 2025.

FENCING

British fencer Akinyosoye switches allegiance to Nigeria

Published

2 months ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

British fencer Folayemi Akinyosoye has recently pledged his allegiance to Nigeria, leaving behind his representation of Great Britain.
Akinyosoye, who has been a prominent figure in British junior fencing for the past six years, made this decision as fencing gains momentum in Nigeria.
In an acceptance letter dated August 1, 2024, and signed by British Fencing CEO Georgina Usher, Akinyosoye was exempted from the usual three-year non-compete period.

    The letter stated, “Following FIE regulations 1.4.3, this letter is from the former federation (Great Britain) accepting the transfer request and agreeing to waive the 3-year non-compete period.”
   It further confirmed, “On behalf of British Fencing, I write to confirm that British Fencing has no objection to the athlete (Folayemi Akinyosoye) changing their FIE nationality and that we waive any non-compete period.”
  The 20-year-old fencer expressed his excitement about the switch, saying, “I would like to represent Nigeria because of my personal connections to Nigeria it’s where my family roots originate, so there is desire to contribute to the development of the sport which is in its early stages stage in Nigeria.

“I also hope that representing Nigeria might provide a unique platform to promote the Sabre Fencing and inspire other young Nigerians to take an interest in the sport.”
He added: “I am very excited to represent Nigeria and cannot wait to work with the Nigerian fencing federation to bring my fencing to the next level.”
Akinyosoye also shared his optimism about Nigeria’s potential to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games.
Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, welcomed Akinyosoye’s decision, highlights the positive impact on the sport’s development in Nigeria.
“We are so excited that the work we have done in the last few years is yielding positive results with the decision by Akinyosoye to fence for Nigeria.

“This again shows that we are doing something right to improve the fortune of the sport, and we hope that we can have a strong team that will compete for places at the 2028 Olympic Games.

“We can’t wait to have him represent Nigeria in an international tournament and mix up with others already in the team,” Samuel said.