A contingent of seven fencers accompanied by two coaches are representing Malta in the third Under 18 Fencing Championship for Mediterranean Countries that are being held this weekend in Tunisia.

Juan Formosa, President of the National Fencing Association of Malta (NFAM) said that this was the second consecutive year that Maltese fencers will be taking part in these games. "Our participation this year was made possible thanks to the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport and Malta International Airport plc as beneficiaries of the MIA Youth Development Sport Policy which they have jointly developed to promote talent among our young athletes.

The seven Maltese fencers are competing in the Foil and Epee individual categories. Nearly one hundred fencers from Serbia & Montenegro, Cyprus, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Monaco, Tunisia, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Algeria and Slovenia will be taking part in the championship" said Formosa.

Giorgio Scarso, President of the Federazione Italiana Scherma, said that it was a great pleasure for him that Malta was taking part. "The Italian Federation has always been keen on supporting the Maltese Association and to promote fencing in the Mediterranean region. Most of the athletes taking part were in Italy a few weeks ago for a one-week training camp we organised to prepare them for the championship" Mr Scarso said.

He added that the Italian Federation has signed a four-year agreement with the NFAM to provide technical assistance and help develop further the skills of the Maltese fencers.

Franco Azzopardi, Chairman of the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport, expressed his satisfaction that the first group of young athletes is benefiting from funds made available through the MIA Youth Development Sport Policy.

He added that the NFAM is a relatively small association but it has managed to groom a number of young athletes and has outlined an ambitious programme for the coming three years to develop further their talent.

This, Azzopardi said, is in line with the policy that the KMS and MIA have developed and in the coming weeks other associations will be allocated funds to assist them in developing their respective plans for young athletes.