Fencing is one of the few sports that has been part of every modern Olympic Games since 1896. Two fencers in white suits try to touch each other with a blade. It looks fast and confusing at first, but the rules are simple once you know the three weapons. Here is a guide.
The piste
Fencers compete on a long, narrow strip called the piste, which is 14 metres long and between 1.5 and 2 metres wide. Stepping off the sides or back of the piste can cost a touch.
The three weapons
**Foil:** A light weapon. Touches count only with the point of the blade on the torso, including the back, but not the arms, legs or head.
**Epee:** The heaviest weapon. Touches count with the point anywhere on the body, from head to toe. If both fencers hit at almost the same time, both get a point.
**Sabre:** Touches count with the point or the edge of the blade, on any part of the body above the waist, including the arms and head. It is the fastest of the three.
Scoring
- Fencers wear electric equipment. A hit is recorded with lights on the scoring machine.
- In direct elimination, a bout usually lasts three periods of three minutes and goes to 15 touches, whichever comes first.
- In the early pool rounds, bouts usually go to 5 touches.
- If scores are level at the end of time, there is an extra minute decided by the next touch.
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Right of way
In foil and sabre, when both fencers hit at about the same time, the referee decides who gets the point using the right of way rule. Usually, the fencer who started the attack first gets priority, unless the opponent parried, or blocked, the attack. Epee has no right of way.
Penalties
Referees can give yellow, red and black cards for faults such as turning the back, covering the target or unsportsmanlike behaviour. A red card gives the opponent a touch.
Team events
Team events have three fencers a side in a relay format, with the first team to 45 touches winning.
India and fencing
C A Bhavani Devi from Tamil Nadu became the first Indian fencer to compete at the Olympics, in sabre at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and won her first round bout. Her success has inspired many young fencers in India.
Bottom line
Know which weapon is being used, and fencing becomes easy to follow: foil and sabre use right of way, while epee rewards the first clean touch.
Source / स्रोत: International Fencing Federation (FIE), Olympics.com, Fencing, Sports Authority of India
