WATCH: Fencers eager for Tokyo Olympics
PRAEGVILLE – Local fencers continue their training ahead of Olympics in July.
As the Tokyo Olympics draws nearer, local fencers are getting more and more excited.
Three fencers of Tyshler Fencing School in Praegville have been discussing their fencing careers and training for the Olympics in YouTube videos.
Pavel Tyshler, Nomvula Mbatha and Harry Saner still hope to qualify but they are among the best in the continent and chances are good they will represent South Africa in Japan come July and August.
They are no strangers to competing for South Africa at international tournaments, and Tyshler and Saner have competed in the World Cup.
The qualifiers will likely be in Egypt in April, and Mbatha will compete in the women’s sabre division while Pavel and Saner will participate in the men’s épée and foil categories respectively.
“Fencing is essentially the simulation of sword fighting in a safe environment,” Tyshler explained in their latest video.
“There is a lot of factors that make a fencer good and no individual factor can contribute to the success of a fencer.”
He said fencers came in all shapes, sizes and speed, and one’s tactical and mental strength was tested as much as their physicality in the sport.
The fencing school is owned by Tyshler’s parents, Dr Gennady and NataliaTyshler. Gennady is the president of the International Fencing Federation Coaching Council.
Saner said he began fencing in 2010 when he told his parents he wanted to be a real-life knight.
“So yeah, King Authur and the knights of the round table are sort of inspiration as well,” he smiled.
“Dr Tyshler has been my coach from the beginning. I think it’s really important to have a training partner that’s not only on the same level as you but that’s trying to push you to do better.”
He said the top fencers at the school were competitive and pushed each other to improve.
Gennady said the qualifiers must be held before 15 April if they were to be legitimate and the Olympics was not postponed again.
“The qualifiers were supposed to be in April this 2020 but they were postponed,” Gennady said in a separate interview with Randburg Sun.
“The guys are training hard in their divisions and one fencer per country is allowed per weapon. The winner at the qualifers will go to the Olympics for their country and I guess Africa too. It is a difficult sport but they will do all they can to prepare.”
Details: Tyshler Fencing School mail@fencingschool.co.za; 011 792 4338; 082 457 4543.
