The FCA Athletes Commission has finally completed its memberships after the elections conducted during the recently concluded Asian Fencing Championships held in Suwon Korea. Elected members are: LEI SHENG (China) for Men’s foil; ALI YAGHOUBIAN (Iran) for Men’s Epee; KIM JUNG HWAN (Korea) for Men’s Saber; and YUNUSBAYEVA JAMILYA (Kazakhstan) for Women’s Epee. Japanese YUKI OTA chairs the FCA Athletes Commission.
A total of 220 athletes out of the 300 who competed in the 2014 Asian Fencing Championships participated in the first ever elections for the FCA Athletes Commission held in Korea from July 2 to 4, 2014. The high 74% turnout of fencers who participated voluntarily in the elections was a demonstration of the acceptance and enthusiasm of the Asian athletes to contribute to the development of fencing in the continent. This percentage is even higher than experienced in the FIE Athletes Commission elections which even offered tokens of umbrellas or towels to fencers who would participate.
This is the first time that the Fencing Confedeartion of Asia has initiated the organization of an athletes commission, following the initiatives of the Federation Internationale D'Escrime.