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SINGAPORE : Fencing in Singapore is the latest sport looking at Olympic glory. And leading that initiative is a private school, which has invested millions of dollars and also brought in a world class technical consultant.
Fencing in Singapore has been growing steadily and Z Fencing has played a major role in that development. The school has 700 students, and about 10 per cent are pursuing the sport at an elite level.
And to further sharpen the skills of those at the top, an Olympic silver-medallist from Germany has also been recruited.
Ralf Bissdorf, technical consultant, Z Fencing, said: "We want to try to get somebody to the Olympics within the next 10 years, so we need time and commitment. I think we have all the groundwork laid, the foundation is here and I am here to develop that groundwork and that foundation."
The commitment must come from the youngsters, many of whom are keen to be Olympians.
Nicole Mae Wong, a student at Z Fencing said: "It's possible, if you set your mind to it, I'm sure you can do it, anything, you can do it!"
Another student, Yau Han Xiang, said: "The fencer who wants to go to the Olympics should have discipline."
Discipline and coaching aside, the school has also pumped in money to help win that gold medal.
T K Wong, founder of Z Fencing, said: "In fact, we have set aside S$3 million over the next few years to make this happen. So we are very determined, we are putting in conditioning systems, we are in fact sponsoring 20 of the national fencers - they are all training under our Club Z."
Two of the club's charges are part of the Singapore Fencing team competing at the Youth Olympic Games.
The school will also organise an international competition at the end of this month, when eight top male fencers will cross swords.
Besides the competition, the eight champions will also be conducting workshops and clinics at Z Fencing. They will also be showing the fencers six Olympic medals - four of which are gold - and forty world championship medals that they have won in the hope to inspire the young ones.
- CNA/al
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