The National Fencing Championship which was organized by Unichela, in collaboration with the National Association for Fencing Sri Lanka, was carried out this evening at the Unichela Fencing Club.
For the preliminaries of the championship, Hon. Reginold Cooray, Minister of Minor export crop, Mr. B.L.H. Perera, Director academic programs, National Olympic committee of Srilanka and many more were present.
The championship took place with the participation of 7 teams. MDS Fencing club, Unichela Fencing Club, Slimline Fencing Club, Southern Fencing Association, Silueta Fencing Club, Thurulie Fencing Club and Slimtex Fencing Club. Around 89 fencers will be fighting for the trophies on the 20th and 21st of December 2012.
Kanchana Madubhashini of Unichela Fencing club won the Sabre women gold medal by defeating her counterpart Nadeesha Karunarathne of Thurulie Fencing Club by 15 to 9 points. Nadeesha was the winner of the silver medal of the sabre women championship and by giving a good fight to Sulakshana Senewirathne and Madushani Samarakoon ended up the bronze winner of the sabre women’s championship.
Coming in to the match, Gayan Bandara of Sileuta held a 15 to 7 points lead over Chamara Nuwan of Slimline in the men’s Epee championship. While Sameera Abeysinghe of Unichela and Damith Rathnayake of MDS, were nominated as the bronze medal winners.
The most anticipated battle took place between Dilan Iresh and Pradeep Dunukiyange of Slimline Fencing club for the men’s foil championship. Though Dilan held in own in the head to head battle, Pradeep was skilled enough to defeat him for 15 to 9 points. And also Anura Bandara of Slimtex and Supun Senewirathne of Unichela clinched the bronze medals of the championship.
The championship will be continued tomorrow. Hon. Sarath Ekanayake, chief minister, central province, Dian Gomez group Director MAS holdings, Ushan Abeywickrema, President NAFSL, Kasuni Silva, Secretary General, NAFSL and many chief guests will grace the closing ceremony which will be held tomorrow evening.
Click Here to View Pictures of the 1st National Fencing Championship