Wheelchair Fencing |
 Introduction Wheelchair fencing is a fast-moving sport entailing agility and quick-wit. There are three disciplines in wheelchair fencing, namely Foil, Epee and Sabre. It has been a Paralympic Sport since the first Paralympic Games held in Rome in 1960. Classification Wheelchair fencing athletes are classified into Class A, B or C according to the ability test, with Class A athletes at the lowest level and Class C athletes at the highest level of impairment. Competition Athletes compete on wheelchairs fastened onto an adjustable metal frame on a piste. They are allowed to move freely their upper body only. Successful hits are displayed on electronic score apparatus; the athlete will gain a point once judged by the Referee. There are different valid hitting areas for different types of swords. In the Foil event, fencers are permitted to hit the trunk area of the opponent only, whereas in the Epee and Sabre events, anywhere above the waist level is a valid hitting area. In individual event, competition takes the form of pool stage followed by rounds of direct elimination. Bouts last for a maximum of three minutes in the pool stage. The fencer who scores five valid hits first or the one with the most hits at the end of the three-minute round will win. In the knockout stage, bouts consist of three rounds of three minutes each. The winner will be the one who scores 15 hits first, or the highest scorer at the end of the match. For more details, please visit the website of International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS): https://wheelchairfencing.iwasf.com/. |