The sixth Asian U23 Fencing Championships kicked off in Hanoi on October 26.

Vietnamese fencer Nguyen Tien Nhat

Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports To Van Dong said the event attracted 250 fencers from 21 countries and territories in Asia.

The host Vietnam sent 45 athletes to compete in six individual categories and six teams’ events, he added.

Head of the fencing section of the National Sports Administration of Vietnam Phung Le Quang said the fencing movement in Vietnam has seen encouraging outcomes in recent years. 

Four Vietnamese fencers overcame the qualifications of the 29th Summer Olympics in Brazil to compete in the tourney. Vietnamese fencers also ranked first at the 29th SEA Games in Malaysia, he noted.

On the first day, Lee Jonghyun from the Republic of Korea won the gold medal in the men’s sabre division while his mate Kim Hyeji bagged the gold medal in the women’s foil category.-VNA