KOCHI:With just a couple of days to go for the start of the fencing events at the CIAL Convention Centre here, teams have moved into the final phase of training.
While milling with with the volunteers and administrators looking to place some last minute touches at the spruced up venue, the first team to congregate in the evening for their practice was Assam. They diligently engaged in a stretching session on the premises as other teams like Manipur and Chhattisgarh examined the venue and left. Meanwhile, the Kerala camp was sizing up their possible opponents. “Assam’s Kabita Devi would be a challenge for us in the women’s epee section.
“The other two fencers from Manipur team are also strong challengers,” said Kerala coach Jijo Nidhi, pointing out the fencer in question.
“ Having participated in the Asian Games and with a number of national medals to boot, Kabita Devi and the team from Assam expressed confidence that they could win medals in all three sections.Kabita will be participating in the women’s epee individual section. “We also expect a medal in the men’s foil category,” said the Kerala coach.