DOHA (Qatar): Aspire Academy will host the 2020 Qatar Fencing Grand Prix, with a record participant is expected to feature in this year’s edition.
The competition will be held at Aspire Dome from January 24 to 26.
The Grand Prix event will witness participation from more than 350 athletes who will be representing approximately 150 countries.
Ali Salem Afifa, Aspire Academy Deputy Director General, welcomed the Qatar Fencing Federation (QFF) delegation led by the Secretary General Khalid Issa Al Hamadi before the two organisations signed an agreement to extend the partnership.
Afifa stressed on the relationship between Aspire Academy and QFF grows with each year.
“Doha Fencing Grand Prix is a mega event on the sporting calendar in our country and it draws lovers of this sport in great numbers. Aspire is proud to host this big event and partake in what is international sporting competition serving as a qualifier for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Afifa.
Al Hammadi commented, “The 2020 Doha Grand Prix brings to our country the biggest championship organised by the Qatar Fencing Federation. Doha is the first of three Grand Prix of the series before Budapest (Hungary) and Cali (Colombia) and it is widely considered to be one of the top three tournaments in the world.
“This year we have the highest number of fencers ever with a total of 350 male and female fencers coming to compete at Aspire and looking to get points that help towards qualification for Tokyo Olympic Games. Our young Qatari fencers get the opportunity to compete with the very best in the world. The Qatari fencers, most of whom are graduate and student Athletes of Aspire Academy, are not yet at the stage of competing for honours at this level, but the experience gained is invaluable.”
