Record participation at the fencing tournament in Weiskirchen: A spectacle of the masters!

Record participation at the fencing tournament in Weiskirchen: A spectacle of the masters!

Last Saturday the 27th edition of the “IKK Open Air Challenge” took place in the picturesque Kurpark in Weiskirchen. In bright sunshine, almost 130 epee fencers from different nations gathered to fight on the longest planche in the world. This planche, which was spread out under the arcades of the Weiskircher Kurpark pond, consists of eleven rows of panels and is 14 meters long. The Hochwald Wadern Fencing Ring has launched the international open-air tournament since 1997, creating a tradition that continues to attract fencing enthusiasts.

The participants came from France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and southwest Germany. The fact that so many fencers took part in this tournament is a testament to the popularity and prestige of the event within the fencing community. Despite strong competition, the athletes came motivated and determined to compete in a sporting competition.

Challenges and successes at World Cups

But while the tournament was taking place in Weiskirchen, the German epee fencing scene was also internationally present. The men's and women's World Cups began in Bern and Fujairah on the same weekend. On the day of the tournament in Fujairah, three of nine German epee fencers were able to reach the second day. Laura Katalin Wetzker opened the World Cup day, but was eliminated in the round of 64 against Guzzi Vincenti (USA). Alexandra Ehler and Gala Hess Sancho also had to admit defeat in the top 64 round.

Among the men, 11 German athletes took part in Bern. While nine fencers missed qualifying for the top 64, Fabian Herzberger and Lukas Bellmann were able to win their duels in the round of the last 64. Herzberger won 15:12, while Bellmann narrowly won 15:14. In the following rounds, Herzberger suffered a defeat against the Italian Matteo Galassi and eventually reached 24th place, while Bellmann finished with his 11th place after losing again to Galassi.

Summary and outlook

The “IKK Open Air Challenge” in Weiskirchen showed once again how lively and diverse the sport of fencing is. Whether on a regional level or on an international stage, the athletes' commitment and will to perform impressed both spectators and competitors. The next competitions are eagerly awaited because they could bring further surprises and successes for the German athletes.

For more information about the tournament in Weiskirchen read here: Saarbrücken newspaper. Information about the World Cups can be found in the reports fencing.org.