The championship will conclude on Tuesday. Patil served as the chief of the Maharashtra Fencing Association before taking over the national responsibility. (Express Photo) India’s top fencers will perform well in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Fencing Association of India (FAI) President Satej Patil said on Monday, exuding confidence.
“Today, we are receiving a good response for fencing. We are also focusing on creating state-of-the-art infrastructure for the sport in the country,” Patil said. “CA Bhavani Devi, who became the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, has paved the way for others. I am confident that top fencers of the country will first qualify and then excel in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.”
Fencing is quite popular in Europe, Patil highlighted. Of late, he added, “India is also taking giant strides in the combat sport.”
Under Patil’s leadership, the 33rd Senior National Fencing Championship is being organised by the FAI – in association with Maharashtra Fencing Association, and Dr DY Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Mhalunge-Balewadi.
The championship will conclude on Tuesday. Patil served as the chief of the Maharashtra Fencing Association before taking over the national responsibility.
On Monday, he also spoke at length about the initiatives taken at the grass-root level by the federation. “We will provide the necessary encouragement to every state association for the growth of fencing. We will create dedicated facilities for fencing in a state like Maharashtra, where there are already 1,500 fencers registered. Getting sponsorships for players will be a challenge and so we will frame a policy where corporate companies can adopt fencers and support them,” Patil elaborated.
“We have also set up 50 fencing centres in India in the past year and we are aiming to set up another such 75 centres in the next year. Our focus is also on encouraging parents to support their kids, who take up fencing at a young age,” he said. About hosting the Senior Nationals in Pune, he said while the organisers are providing state-of-the-art facilities for fencers, who have come from 29 states, and the Services Sports Control Board, emphasis is also given on providing nutritious food after consulting dieticians.
“It is a matter of immense pride to host the Senior Nationals in Pune. To effectively reach out to the masses, we are using social media. We want more and more people to take inspiration from this competition,” he underlined.