Three Fencers of the AFAT participated in the Fencing World Championships in Leipzig:
| Foil: | Nontapat Panchan (Non)
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| Epee: | Siriroj Ratprasert (Om)
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| Sabre: | Wiradech Kothny (Willi)
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| Coach: | Somkhit Phongyoo (for Willi and Non)
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| Chief of delegation: | Erik Kothny
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Day 1:
The three Thai fencers had different pre-elimination rounds:
- Willi lost only one of six fights and was qualified directly into the last 32.
Non did a good job against three fencers. Three fights he lost. To come into the last 64 he had to fence a direct elimination round. He won.
Om only won two fights in the pre-elimination round and had to fence two fights to reach the round of the the last 64. He only won one fight. Om finished the world championship on the first day.
Day 2:
On the second day Wiradech and Nontapat both lost their first fight and were eliminated in the last 64. Only Nontapat had a real chance to come reach the best 32, but Non was very ”unlucky” because the referee preferred his opponent.
The results:
- Wiradech Kothny
- Nonthapat Panchan
- Siriroj Ratprasert
Remark: China, Korea and Japan sent teams in all weapons to Germany, even Kazakhstan had a sabre team in Leipzig - and all the teams did their jobs very well. Korea won one Gold medal, China one Silver. Japan reached good placements in nearly all weapons.
Thailand does not participate with teams in the world cups. Therefore the chance for Thailand to hit the ”big” Asian Nations will be smaller with every year. To close up to the best fencing nations, AFAT should not be satisfied to win a hand full of medals in the SEA games.
SEA-Games only have the international level of cadets. If Thai Fencing Clubs will not change their training- and competition-system, the difference to other Asian nations will be bigger every day. Meanwhile, even Willi went down to standard Thai level.