Amsterdammers compete in the Junior World Cup in Dubai

Amsterdammers compete in the Junior World Cup in Dubai

Today the first Amsterdam fencers from SchermCentrum Amsterdam (SCA) leaves for the World Youth Championship in Dubai. After months of preparation in the Frans Otten Stadium, they can now compete against the best in the world.

On April 2 Bote Schaafsma, fencing sabre, is the first to start. Bote is a student at the University of Amsterdam and has been part of the Dutch Sabre selection for years. Bote is in his last year as a junior and this will be his first title tournament post Corona.. On April 4, he will also play with the Dutch junior team. Bote will be coached and guided in Dubai by SCA coach Arash Sheikh, who will also act as national team coach.

On April 5, Tessa Koster & Elise Butin Bik, fencing foil, will participate individually and on April 7 with the team. Both ladies are juniors, but it will is Tessa’s first year, and Elise’s last year. While Elise was already able to show what kind of stuff she was made of at the European championship, Tessa was unfortunately at home at the time due to a Corona. Valerie Buijs is also allowed to participate in the juniors and the day after she can participate as a senior cadet, as well as participate with the other ladies in the junior team. The foil selection will be supervised by SCA coach Matthijs Rohlfs and he will also act as national coach.

At the last minute, the Amsterdam delegation was expanded with an extra participant. Two weeks ago we came into contact with Sofia Polonka, a Ukrainian saber fencer. She fled the war and arrived in Amsterdam as a refugee. She had already qualified for the youth World Cup, but was out of fencing gear. In collaboration with the KNAS, SCA has successfully arranged financing for her trip, bought fencing equipment and put the administration in order. She flies today with the Dutch selection to rejoin her teammates in Dubai. For us she is a good example of perseverance and how we support each other in the fencing world.

We wish all fencers a lot of success, Allez! 🤺