Following on the tradition of the National Champions questionairre, the 6 2013 Champions kindly contributed some answer following their Championship win.

“The Sword Fighter Dozen”

Australian 2013 National Champion: Ping Yuan  – Womens Foil Champion.

1: How long have you been Fencing? What made you start? How long did it take for you to feel competent?

A: I have been fencing for 18 years. I was invited by the fencing coach and then started to do the fencing. It took me 2 years to feel competent.

2: How long have you been Competing at National / International level?

A:  Since I was 17 years old, have represented my country to compete in the National and International level.

3: What made you choose your weapon?, have you fenced the other 2?

A:  I think foil is the most graceful and hardest one in three weapon, and also it has high technical content. I’ve fenced the epee, but only for fun.

4: Where is your favourite place to fence or to train?

A: The Chinese National fencing training centre, I spent 6 years training there. Not only have “feeling”, but also get lots of excellent results for fencing.

5: How important have a coach and training partners been to you?

A:  It’s important to every ‘sportsman’ with a good coach and good training environment. Unfortunately since I left the Chinese National team in 2008 and moved to NZ, I haven’t got a single coach and haven’t got good training environment and good enough training partner.

6: What are your future ambitions for 2014 and beyond? work / training / competition?

A:   Try to compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Game and defeat Gold medalist.

7: Who if anyone have you modeled your fencing on? Or do you have a favourite Fencer (Internationally)?

A:  I’ve a favorite fencer who is Valentina Vezzali (Womens Foil – Italy)

8: What if any other sports do you play/train?

A:  Golf.

9: What difference if any did this national event have to others?

A: Australia National Championships is the best event which is held in Oceania Region.

10: What is your weekly training regime? 

A: Since move to NZ in 2008 haven’t done any training at all.

11:  What advice would you give future Australian champions?

A:   My advice will be, that I wish next time the referee can be more professional and fair bit more, specially the semi-final and final. Because I had really experience this time, it was very obviously and clear point but the referee gave the point to wrong side.

12: What is the best / worst thing about Fencing in Australia?

A: The venue of competition is very professional and good, but suggest if the competition be placed in a more convenient location (such like in Sydney) which be more convenient and cheaper for the international fencers to come and compete.

 Thanks so much Ping…..