Egypt takes the Arab Youth Fencing Championship in Jordan. Inas Mazhar reports Egypt claimed the Arab Youth Fencing Championship for under-17 and under-20. The Egyptians took home 11 medals -- eight gold, one silver and two bronze. The team comprised three men and three women accompanied by their head coach, former national and international champion Mohamed Fouad. A total 490 fencers representing nine Arab countries took part in the one-week event. "Palestine and Iraq were keen to take part in the competition despite their circumstances," board member of the fencing federation Mervat Hassanein said. The UAE was making its first appearance by a female team. Ayman Alaa, 15, who was denied the gold medal in the under-17 epee event, beat Kuwaiti champion Bassem El-Zafeiri in the under-20 event. Mariam El-Sawi, also 15, beat Jordan's Hanin Al-Helwe 15/12 to win the under 20 sabre event. Egypt's top female Eman Shaaban confirmed her supremacy by winning two gold medals in the under-17 and under-20 foil events. Aya El-Sayed also collected two gold medals in the under-17 and U-20 epee events. Alaa El-Sayed also won two gold medals in the under-17 and U-20 foil. President of the Egyptian Fencing Federation Mohamed Abdullah was happy with the achievement despite taking part with only six fencers due to budget restraints. "However, they all met our expectations and each of them brought a medal. Some even won two," Abdullah said. Two months ago, Egypt won the African Fencing Championship in Morocco after dominating all three events. Egypt is preparing to host the Arab Fencing Championship, scheduled for 16-20 September. Egyptian fencers will submit to an intensive two-week training camp starting the first week of next month at the Olympic Centre in Maadi. Warm-ups for the big event will include trials in all weapons. HOW TO PLAY: Two rivals stand opposite each other and feint, lunge, parry and riposte until one scores the required number of hits to win. Fencing is the Olympic sport of sword fighting which is directly descended from the duel. Two competitors face off in a "bout", and compete to score points on each other with their weapons. To beat an opponent, a fencer must use bladework, footwork, tactics and strategy. Fencing bouts are characterised by flurries of speed, highly aerobic movement, and lightning-fast blade movements. Fencing has three weapons, each derived from a historical antecedent. Modern fencing weapons are lighter, safer sport versions of the real thing. All weapons in fencing range from 30" to 35" long, and typically weigh under 500 grammes. There are a set of requirements to which each weapon must conform, for reasons of safety and fairness. THE EPEE: The Epee is descended from the duelling rapier, and has a large hand- guard and a blade which has a V-shaped cross-section. Epee fencers score touches with the tip of the blade, and are allowed to hit any part of the opponent's body. Epeeists often train to hit the opponent's hand, toe and leg, since these are the closest targets. THE SABRE: The Sabre is descended from the curved cavalry sword. It has a basket-shaped hand-guard that completely covers the hand, and a blade which is Y- shaped in cross-section. Sabre fencers can score with the tip, but more commonly use the edge of the weapon to make "cuts" to the target. Sabre is the only edged weapon in fencing. Sabre fencers can hit any part of the opponent's body above the waist. Sabreurs often train to hit the opponent's hand, since it is a close target, and the opponent's head, since it is easy to hit with an edged weapon. THE FOIL: The Foil is a synthetic weapon. It was originally designed by fencing teachers as a lighter, safer training substitute for real weapons. The foil has a small, round hand-guard and a blade that is rectangular in cross-section. Foil fencers score touches with the tip of the blade, and are allowed to hit anywhere on the opponent's torso, including groin, chest and back (but not including arms, hands, legs and head). Foilists train to hit the chest, but a school of technique is also built around hitting the opponent's back with a move that bends the blade in a curve (the "flick"). Fencing bouts take place on a long, narrow strip about 14 metres long and two metres wide. Fencers take position at the "on guard" lines, two metres equidistant from the precise centre of the strip. The fencers begin their combat trying to score points. They move back and forth on the strip. If a fencer runs off the side of the strip, the director stops the action and repositions the fencers. If a fencer is chased off the very end of the strip, a point is awarded against him. When a fencer scores a "touch," the director (referee) calls, "Halt!" and then indicates who wins the point. Since both fencers are simultaneously trying to defend and hit, directors are required at tournaments to fairly judge the actions. Even during practice, directors are preferred, though not strictly necessary. Because of its speed, fencing uses modern electrical devices to assist the director in awarding points.
