Southside fencer to challenge own record

LOCAL Southside girl Emilia Velma, from Blackrock, will be challenging her own previous winning record this weekend at the Irish Open hosted by Fencing Ireland at the National Sports Arena, Blanchardstown.

Emilia has been fencing since she was six-years-old. Coming from a strong background in fencing is it no surprise that she has excelled at her sport, shadowed by her mother Olga who also happens to be her coach.

Emilia attends St Kilians Deutsche School and fences for Pembroke Fencing Club. Over the past year she has won Gold at Youth 5 Nations and Gold at the Irish Open 2018.

She has represented Ireland in European Championships and World Championships in 2018 and is hoping to achieve similar results at this year’s Irish Open which is taking place on October 26/27.

Fencing Ireland will be hosting the event this year and some of the world’s top fencers will be attending, as this will be their last opportunity to win some vital qualification points towards their road to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 .

For the 13th year running the Irish Open Fencing Championships includes a Men’s Epee FIE Satellite event.

The Senior team will be competing alongside other nations such as Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, USA, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Netherlands as well as many others.