International Fencers To Compete In Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament

Over 125 fencers from around the world will be competing in the fencing championship at the 11th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex. With a total of 127 champion fencers from 14 countries, the tournament will determine the champions in various categories. The event, which is held annually during the holy month of Ramadan, features nine sports including volleyball, padel, jiu-jitsu, fencing, wheelchair basketball, running race, cycling race, tug-of-war, and obstacle challenge.

The top fencers from 14 nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Hungary, Estonia, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iran, Tunisia, Iraq, and the UAE, will compete in four categories: epee and foil for international men, sabre for Arab men, and an epee competition exclusively for girls and women born in the UAE. The competition will follow the latest rules set by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

Players will be classified according to FIE rules, while UAE fencers without international classification will be classified according to the rules of the UAE Fencing Federation. The tournament consists of two stages. In the first stage, all fencers will compete against each other in a single round.

At the end of this stage, fencers will be classified based on the number of wins, difference in touches, and touches recorded in sequence. In the event of a tie in ranking, a play-off match will be held to determine the advancing player. After the qualifiers, a match will be held to determine third and fourth places, followed by the final between the top two finishers to determine the champion. The epee competitions for international men and UAE fencers will take place from 7:30 pm tonight, while the sabre competition for Arab fencers will commence at the same time on Wednesday.

The finals for the sabre competition will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 on Thursday. Ali Al Marzouqi, the Executive Director of the UAE Fencing Federation, expressed his satisfaction with the development of the sport at both the technical and administrative levels. He highlighted the importance of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament in providing a platform for local fencers to compete against some of the best in the world.

Al Marzouqi also praised the reputation of the tournament among athletes and sports federations, attributing it to the support and care of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. This year's tournament is unique as it is being held separately from the FIE World Cup, but it has attracted international fencers who are looking for strong competition. Al Marzouqi expressed his excitement about the strong lineup of fencers from Egypt, Hungary, and Iran, as it will contribute to the success of the tournament and provide exposure for local fencers. The fencing competition at the NAS Sports Tournament will also serve as preparation for the UAE youth team, which will participate in the FIE World Cup in Saudi Arabia after Eid-Al-Fitr.

In addition to fencing, the tournament will also feature the Obstacle Challenge from March 14 to 21, road running races on March 16, the Jiu-Jitsu competition on March 17 and 18, Wheelchair Basketball from March 20 to 28, cycling races on March 22 and 23, volleyball tournament from March 22 to 31, and tug-of-war contest from March 24 to 29.