World’s Top Fencers Compete in Astana and Tashkent 

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are hosting World Cup fencing competitions this week, reflecting the growth of the sport in Central Asia. Top fencers from around the world have gathered in the Kazakhstani capital of Astana for the men’s and women’s epee competition, which started on Thursday and runs until Sunday. The two-day women’s saber contest in Tashkent, Uzbekistan began on Friday. A third World Cup, in men’s saber, is currently underway in Budapest, Hungary. In total, more than 800 elite fencers are participating in the three events, according to the International Fencing Federation. The federation says second-ranked Giulia Rizzi of Italy and sixth-ranked Hungarian Eszter Muhari are the fencers “to watch” on the women’s side in Astana, while on the men’s side, tenth-ranked Tristen Tulen of the Netherlands has had a breakout year. In Tashkent, two-time world champion Misaki Emura of Japan is a favorite. Still, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are establishing their presence in international fencing, winning medals in high-level competitions. Last year, the men’s epee team of Kazakhstan won bronze at the World Fencing Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, beating France for the medal. The Uzbek competition will be hosted in the state-of-the-art Olympic City, the largest sports complex in Central Asia, and the designated hub for the 4th Asian Youth Games in 2029. One of Uzbekistan’s top women is Zaynab Dayibekova, who competed in the Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris and is currently ranked 29th in the world. She was part of the women's saber team from Uzbekistan that won gold at the 2023 Asian Games, defeating host China in the semifinal and then Japan in the final. Speaking at the opening ceremony in Tashkent, Otabek Umarov, First Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan and Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia, said: “We are delighted to welcome the world’s best senior female fencers to Tashkent to experience Uzbekistan’s renowned hospitality, rich cultural heritage, and world-class sports facilities. We are grateful to our friends at the International Fencing Federation for their trust in our ability to host a spectacular event."