Talk:Poland's Makowska takes category B wheelchair fencing bronze at the London Paralympics

Beginners guide to fencing
This is from plus+ Beginner's guide to wheelchair fencing Monday, 03 September 2012 - 21:50

LONDON, 3 September - There will be 12 events in wheelchair fencing when five days of competition gets under way on Tuesday in the North 2 arena at ExCeL.

There are seven for men and five for women. Team events will take place in the men's foil and the women's epee; all other gold medals will be for individual competitions.

Three different weapons are used in fencing: foil, epee and sabre. In foil and epee, scores can only be achieved with hits with the tip of the weapon, whereas in sabre fencers can also reach a score with a hit with the blade of the weapon.

In foil and sabre fencing only the fencer with "the right of way", meaning the one who has started the attack, can score. In epee fencing both fencers can score at the same time.

Wheelchair fencing is one of the oldest sports in the Paralympic Games. It was introduced first as sabre fencing only at the International Stoke Mandeville Games at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury in 1954.

There are three classifications in wheelchair fencing, A, B and C, but only A and B are part of the Paralympic programme. A means that the athletes have a functional sense of balance and trunk function, classification B means less trunk function.

The fencer with the shorter arm length can decide about the distance between the two fencers. Both wheelchairs are placed on a metal plate and strapped down. So the distance between the wheelchairs stays the same during the bout.

Depending on whether both fencers are right- or left-handed or opposite handed, the positions of the wheelchairs are adjusted.

The target areas are different depending on the weapon. In foil fencing only the torso - including the back - is the target area. In sabre it is the whole upper body above the waistline, excluding the hands. In epee it is the whole body, but in wheelchair fencing the legs are excluded and covered with a blanket to make sure that no false scores can be achieved.

Scores are measured by electrical impulses when the weapon touches the opponent's target area and closes a circuit.

To win a bout, one fencer has to score 15 hits.

Fencers wear a helmet to protect their faces from being hit.

PNS ck/rme

REPUBLISHED: Wheelchair fencing classifications explained
This is from plus+ REPUBLISHED: Wheelchair fencing classifications explained Monday, 03 September 2012 - 17:22

LONDON, 3 September - A basic guide to wheelchair fencing classifications at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

All athletes must have a minimal handicap, which means that, due to a permanent disability, they cannot fence standing.

Being eligible to wheelchair fence does not mean that the athletes always use a wheelchair in daily life.

There are fencing events for athletes in categories A, B and C, but only categories A and B are part of the Paralympic programme.

The classification is based on a series of tests and a point system, depending on the muscular function level.

A - athletes with good sitting balance and good trunk control with their fencing arm not affected.

B - athletes with fair sitting balance and their fencing arm not or only minimally affected.

There are individual events for all three weapons, foil, epee and sabre in categories A and B.

In the team events - foil for men and epee for women - both categories can take part.

PNS ck/amc/sw/mr/sw

Journalists notes
This is the first day of wheelchair fencing competition. They also announced the fact about it being the first medals on the speaker.

Italian and French fans out in force. Several flags for them. Also a few Hungarian flags.

Wheelchairs are locked into place. Equipment is checked. The Polish fans were cheering loudly when their player put on her mask.

Athletes told when ready to salute oppontents. They did. They have three minutes time.

Osvath took lead early in his.

Krajyak took lead early in hers. Cima Marco took lead in his.

French fans are very very loud. The flags came out to wave. There was even French media cheering. Italian fans also cheering for their guy and are easy to spot as they have shirts on.

There were some scattered French boos at one point. A Hungarian flag and Chinese flag present.

tokaltlian got new fol in his match.

Krajnyak in her match kept bending her foil after her points and talking to judges.

Osvath looked like he would come out of his chair.

Juhasky in HUN v HUN almost toppled her chair a few time in their match.

Pauses in bith FRA v HUN and HUN v HUN where judges consulted.

First bronze medalists was in HUN v HIUN with Kranjak winning.

3-5 in FRE v HUN

HUN foot stood straight out.

ITA v FRA was close. Was 8-8 and FRA fans were cheering loudly.

The media had people repeatedly loudly cheering from it.

France went ahead 8-11 in ITA v FRA and fans started clapping and chanting. They were saying something that sounded like arpee. Some Russian fans but not that loud and only one flag. The Poles were sitting in wheelchair are and excited.

The French fans were also sitting next to me.

Hungarian fans also flag waving and chanting the name of their guy in FRA v HUN.

ITA v FRA held lots of attention.

11-14 ITA v FRA and cans nutty.

Then FRA attention switched to FRA v HUN and lots of cheers.

When FRA medalists wheeled out, huge cheers again

Shots of Marco! Huge cheer from one corner for the Hungarians who got louder as that match got further long.

Sustained loud cheer and people standing when Hungarian won in HUN v FRA.

Last match to be finished was CHN v POL. Close at 13-12.

Marco is getting cheers.

When France bronze announced lots of more cheers. Lots of cheers for both fencers. POL was ahead 13-14 but then tie to 14-14. Cheers of Com on Poland! There were a number who did not want to see China win from sound. Polish flag waved when it was announced. At least five I saw and the winner screamed in delight and raised her hands. She was hugged by coach. Other Poles came up to hug her. Huge applause as the HUN from HUN v FRA left.