12 Feb 2026
Aspire Academy’s fencing coaches have praised the role played by Al Qadisiya School in the Academy’s fencing programme.
The school recently hosted the annual Al-Qadisiya/Aspire Academy showcase and competition event to celebrate the continued collaboration between the two institutions.
The event was attended by parents, teachers and more than 40 boys from nine schools who are all part of Aspire Academy’s Pre-Academy Fencing programme.
The strong links between the two were clearly emphasised with an opening exhibition bout between Ali Alkhlif and Abdulrahman Al-Jadra, who are currently in grade 12 and began their fencing journeys as pupils at Al Qadisiya.
They both took part in the pre-academy programme before being invited to join Aspire Academy as student-athletes and have gone on to represent Qatar internationally at several competitions.
The event also included a demonstration and explanation of fencing basics, featuring Aspire Academy coaches and pre-academy students.
The morning culminated in competitive bouts among young pre-academy fencers to showcase their development.
Alvaro Monteiro, a Senior Fencing Coach at Aspire Academy, was keen to highlight the close links between the Academy and Al Qadisiya.
“This is where everything starts. Our collaboration with Al Qadisiya is extremely important,” he said.
“This was a beautiful day because we got to see the full progression that is possible— from the early stages, when kids start here in school at ages seven, eight, and nine, all the way up to the senior level, competing at Asian Championships, and even at World Championships.”
“We start by nurturing their passion for the sport here, seeing who is genuinely interested in fencing, and giving them basic skills.”
“From this pre-academy level, they can move on to Aspire’s part‑time program and then later those with the skill but also the love for the sport — because that’s essential — then they can become full‑timers.”
“When they get to the Academy, their schedule becomes intense: eight sessions a week, competitions, training camps… so they really need that passion.”
“This school is the foundation of the entire project. Around 70% of our total recruitment comes from Al Qadisiya, so it’s a very important partnership.”
“We all know that here in Qatar, fencing isn’t a big sport like football or some of the more well‑known sports, and so Al Qadisiya really helps us promote fencing, which is very necessary.”
This annual showcase not only highlighted the impressive progress of young fencers but also demonstrated the strength of a pathway that begins in local classrooms and can lead all the way to international competition.
As Aspire Academy looks toward the future, Al Qadisiya remains a cornerstone of its fencing ambitions—helping to grow the sport and inspire young Qataris.