FENCING LESSONS

Azerbaijani fencing intends to make up lost ground in the international arena. One of the first steps taken by the national federation to this end was to invite Tahir Akimov to be chief coach. He has been in place for six months now. The coach has already assessed the team's potential and believes that our fencers are capable of reaching the heights.

Starting from scratch

Yelena Zhemayeva, a title-winning sabre fencer, has been the driving force behind our national team for many years and many of Azerbaijani fencing's successes are down to her. The famous fencer, who holds the title of World and European Champion and who has won the World Cup, has all the titles imaginable except for an Olympic medal, although she was regarded as one of the favourites at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. We had quite a strong team on the whole, as proved by bronze medals at the World and European Champion-ships. However, these achievements are all things of the past and now new "raw" sportsmen are facing more down-to-earth challenges. "We looked at all the fencers and coaches in order to assess their level, especially as, for various reasons, they have been unable to go to international contests as members of the national team in recent years. At the same time, most attention was focused on the women's sabre fencing team, due to Yelena Zhemayeva's success. She looked most promising, although the men's national sabre fencing team is not too bad either. We have now selected a promising men's sabre fencing team. The guys are 22 or 23 years old and have time to develop, especially as fencing is usually mastered no earlier than 25. So I have great hopes for the men's and women's national sabre fencing teams," Akimov said.

The coach has also made his decision about national team coaches, although some questions remain. Samir Ibrahimov, the 1990 Soviet world champion, has also been invited to join the sabre fencing team. He will try now to prove his professional fitness as a coach. "When he began his career, my career was already at its peak and after I finished my career Samir made it into the youth team and then into the national first team. In terms of training the men's sabre fencing team, I have great hopes for him," Akimov delared. As for the women's sabre fencing team, they have a chance to win a place in the 2012 Olympic Games, just like the men's team, said the coach. The only difference is that the fair sex has already passed one test, attending a number of major tournaments, while the men's team has not quite matured yet. However, this situation should change significantly over the next season and the team will attend more representative contests. For this reason, the first contests of the New Year should indicate the effect of the coaches' work during the last six months. Moving on to other fencing disciplines, we have to point out that the performance of the epee fencers leaves something to be desired, although we have hard working fencers and coaches. "The team did not have a chance to attend tournaments or hold team practice sessions early on, and they have little experience. Their biggest achievement was in attending contests in Iran, Kutaisi and the World Islamic Games. But if we want to achieve further development in epee fencing, it is possible that a foreign coach will be invited. Foil fencing has not functioned for the last two years as there were no qualified personnel. Now foil fencing coach Leyla Zeynalova has taken on this role," Akimov stressed.

The priority is a school of fencing

Meanwhile, the coach thinks that one of the most important requirements is the opening of a school of fencing, which would solve many problems. For example, the halls at the national federation's base, the Neftci sports and health centre and the children's and youth sports school are not up to standard. "It is necessary to set up a base where we could install at least 10 fencing mats, to bring representatives of sabre, epee and foil fencing together. In order to compete for Olympic places, we have to start work now. Some equipment is also needed. Only members of the national team have equipment. There are a great number of other fencers who do not attend tournaments, but who practice all the time," the coach said. Meanwhile, the minimum aim for next season is maximum participation in international tournaments of all types of fencing programmes, especially as participation in competition is equivalent to three months of practice. Our sabre fencers will participate in World Cup qualifiers in London, Chicago and Moscow, where they will encounter the best fencers on the planet.

Tahir Akimov avowed that he did not regret leaving Hong Kong where he had every facility necessary for his work, as the sport of fencing in Azerbaijan has to advance almost from zero. "Although I have spent a long time working abroad, I did not lose contact with my home country. I was constantly meeting my colleagues at various tournaments and exchanging views with them, and I was aware of all the developments in Azerbaijani fencing. I was well aware of the condition of the team and recognised its prospects. However, I faced a dilemma - to return home or to emigrate, as I have spent many years working in Iran and Hong Kong and have my own pupils there. But I did not see myself without Azerbaijan and decided to return home. This was also prompted by a favourable set of circumstances - Nazim Ibrahimov was elected head of the national federation - and he supports this sport with all his heart - and I was received by Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov. I had some idea of the level of the sport in the country at the time. I would not say it was low - fencing has existed and will continue to exist in Azerbaijan. For me the post of chief coach is a great responsibility. After all, we are all indebted to our fencing, especially as we have gained victories, both in Soviet times and in the period of independence. And, of course, we have to continue this tradition," Akimov said.

The national federation is already preparing to host the Baku Fencing Open international tournament in the capital in May. With this in mind, a competition for the competition logo has been announced, and many promising artists are working on it. "Some countries have a simpler approach to the holding of tournaments, and posters display only the logo of the federation. We want our contest to have its own distinctive mark, especially as it is planned to make it an annual event. Thus the logo will be quite opportune," said Ramin Mammadov, secretary-general of the federation. So the first step has already been taken and the deadline for submitting all sketches is 25 January.

The contest will be of a regional nature and will be quite a good test for the national team and reserves. If Azerbaijan wants to be represented in the fencing programme in Olympic Games, it is necessary to prepare for the new cycle now; however, it is not going to be easy to get into the Games, since rating is one of the criteria for selection. Specifically, before the Olympic Games of 2004, the international federation handed out places to the eight best sportswomen, including Yelena Zhemayeva. Currently, we do not have a sportswoman who could creditably replace Yelena, which is why it is not an easy task. But as we know, there are no irreplaceable sportsmen. Thus the coaches need to train a new cadre, capable of competing for a place in London 2012. If we look at the latest results, the Americans are setting the pace in sabre fencing, as they won all the prizes in the individual events in the Olympic Games. There is competition from China, France, Russia, Italy and Japan, who are also quite dangerous. In order to compete with them successfully, it is necessary first to reach their level, and this may take many years. In any case, you have to start from somewhere, as there is no other option.