Fencing: Sitting on the fence

Between a selection muddle and India’s performance over the years — no entries in 2014 and a forgettable outing in 2010 — medals in fencing look elusive at Jakarta-Palembang.

There will be six fencing categories for both men and women: individual and team events for the foil, the epee and the sabre. But India is sending a team of four women for just the epee contests

Fencing is a sport of great intensity. For the uninitiated, it involves two competitors attempting to score points by touching each with the weapon of choice — foil, epee or sabre — on a 6ft by 40ft aluminium piste, the points being recorded electronically and the target area of contact being different for each weapon.

The sport, which has a large following around the globe but is yet to gain popularity in India, will have six categories for both men and women at the 2018 Asian Games: individual and team events for the foil, the epee and the sabre. But India is sending a team of four women for just the epee contests.

In fact, caught in a selection muddle, there was no clarity on the country’s participation in the event till just a few weeks before the Asian Games. And considering India’s performance over the years — no entries in 2014 and a forgettable outing in 2010 — medals look elusive at Jakarta-Palembang.