Grant winner to open children’s fencing club

This year’s graduate Irina Dorosh is going to receive 1 million rubles from the Student Startup fund.

After hearing about Russian fencers’ succcesses at international tournaments, Dorosh says to have thought, “Sports schools only accept children between 8 and 12 years old, but what about the rest of us, including adults? We decided to create a leisure center to teach fencing to everyone. This year we are planning to open a group where children aged 4-7 will be practicing together with their parents. We believe that parents begin to understand their children better if they practice fencing together. Our club is a kind of a school for fencer’s parents as well.”

The club differs from a sports school in that it will offer a more individual approach, says Dorosh.

“Not everyone wants to be a champion. Some just like fencing, and they have an opportunity to learn it. At the same time, if a child aims at entering a sports school, but is still too young, they acquire the skills necessary for a fencer which allow them to demonstrate high results in the future. There are many such examples,” comments the grant winner.

To train versatile athletes, the school plans to provide classes in gymnastics, fitness, yoga, basketball, and volleyball.

The grant funding will be disbursed to electronic targets, fencing uniforms, plastic rapiers, and other items. If everything goes as planned, the school may then apply for membership in the Russian Fencing Federation.