29 Jan 2025
Three of Aspire Academy's student-athletes showed tremendous promise during their appearance at the Doha Grand Prix Epee Fencing event, which took place at the Academy's multi-purpose hall for the 15th time.
The three-day championship, which ran from January 24th to 26th, showcased the talent of 440 elite fencers, including 247 men and 193 women from 56 nations.
Nine of the nations competing were Arab countries, reflecting the growth of the sport within the region.
Aspire Academy student-athletes Abdulrahman Al Jadra (17) and Ali Al Khalif (17) were among the youngest competitors in the field. At the same time, at just 15 years old, Yousef Abdul Tawab was the youngest fencer at the event. Despite facing older and more experienced fencers, all three managed to win at least one bout at the Grand Prix as they represented Qatar.
Abdulrahman Al Jadara, who competed in six matches, said: "In the first match, I faced a strong player from Ukraine, and despite my efforts, he secured the win. The second match was against a player from Singapore, and he was the only opponent I managed to defeat. We were on a fairly equal level, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to perform so well in that match. Overall, the experience was incredibly valuable, as all the players I competed against were highly skilled and experienced. These matches allowed me to gain significant insights and invaluable experience, which will undoubtedly help me elevate my performance in the future."
Ali Al Khalif emphasized that their participation was an inspiring and challenging experience, stating: "Our participation today was an exceptional opportunity to acquire new playing techniques, which significantly contribute to elevating our level and improving our performance in future competitions."
Rudy Naejus, Senior Fencing Coach at Aspire Academy, was proud of how well the student-athletes performed at a senior event: "Grand Prix Fencing events are a senior-level competition, and our students, being cadet (under-17) and junior (under-20) athletes, are still very young. Having this world-class event hosted here provides them with an incredible opportunity to witness the highest level of fencing firsthand. This event is not only motivational for our students, seeing such competitions happen at their school, but also a tremendous learning experience. It was amazing to witness them achieve victories. In the build-up to the event, they also had the chance to train alongside the best in the world, interact with champions, and seek advice. This is how they grow—by practising and observing elite athletes in action."
The Qatar event is one of nine Grand Prix competitions on the global fencing calendar. It allows athletes from around the world to compete at a high level while enjoying the impeccable experience Qatar offers.
In addition to the three student-athletes taking part, three 2024 Aspire Academy graduates, Muhammad Abdulali, Meshaal Al Qahtani, and Mohammed Al Hazaa, who are all 18 years old, competed. With a total of six fencers who have trained with Aspire Academy, the event highlights the Academy's commitment to working with the Qatar Fencing Federation to foster athletic excellence. The Grand Prix also showcased the world-class facilities Aspire Academy has available for athletes once again.