Triumph of the Russian wheelchair fencers on World Cup in Malchow (Germany) At the stage of the Wheelchair Fencing World Cup in German Malchow Russian fencers have won for the first time 9 medals - two gold, three silvers and four bronzes. 
The victory in the individual event was celebrated by the sportsmen from Ufa – their debut in international competitions Albina Kuramshina (category A, sabre) and Marat Yusupov (category B, foil). Elena Chervyakova from Moscow became the silver medal winner in two disciplines (category A, foil, sabre). For the first time on the podium for the team event was the men's National Sabre team of Russia (Sergey Frolov, Alexander Kurzin and two Timurs – Khamatshin and Fayzullin) has risen conceded in the end of the competitions, to the skilled team of France. Bronze medals were won by Lyudmila Vasilyeva ( category B, foil, Moscow), fencers Alexander Kurzin ( category B, Cherepovets), Timur Khamatshin ( category B, Ufa), Irina Vidrashko ( category A, Moscow). The World Cups 2009 also have been handed over in Germany. The Russian sabre-fencer Irina Vidrashko was won one of them for the first time. Wheelchair fencing began its development in 1948 after the end of the Second World War. That heroes of the battles who were traumatized during operations, could find the calling on fencing paths. This kind of sports has started to develop in Russia since 2005. But already today it is possible to speak about brilliant prospects of sportsmen from our country. To the first stages of the World Cups, only two or three Russians went there, this time there were already eighteen of them in Germany. In total for these years, more than 100 sportsmen have tried their hand at foils, epees and sabre, owing to the active help of the International Charity foundation « For Future of Fencing », the Ministry of sports, tourism and youth policy of Russia, Moskomsport and the regional organizations. However, our Paralympic sportsmen have not received the official support of power structures right away. From the beginning they had to prove, that they were not only capable of mastering the complex fencing techniques, but to show the results on the world scene to. Only one organization – ICF « For Future of Fencing » - believed in our enthusiasts in the development of wheelchair fencing in Russia and has created all conditions for the future victories. The stock and the equipment, money for competition trips and the sports form, encouragement of the Foundation leaders have made good improvements. Paralympic sportsmen started to win! And today the program of the wheelchair fencing development is one of priorities in the Foundation.  Having visited the competitions in Malchow with the guys, I have felt myself how complex it might be to solve quickly and precisely, not only the sports life, but household problems in normal life for fencers and for all people, who help them, too. At the airport it was necessary to transfer and hand over in luggage, 18 wheelchairs, 18 pairs of wheels for them, 18 fencing bags, and to help guys transfer to their seats the plane. The head of the Russian National team Elena Belkina, coaches Elena Dubkova, Anzor Gaglashvili, Farit Arslanov, Mikhail Aleksandrov, Sergey Tazeev, doctor Ivan Penkin together with walking sportsmen operated, as the mechanism of the Swiss watches. In Berlin the bus was sent which did not have any working wheelchair lifts, and all guys were transferred on their places by hands. But everyone did the work with a smile, thus joked and laughed with all the heart. Certainly, many efforts of the founder of Wheelchair fencings in Russia, the president of the Federation and the main coach of the National team, Elena Belkina who is simultaneously both the head, and the coach, and the mother, and the close friend, were required to make this team feel like a team. In fact, it was necessary not only to incur the responsibility for the new business, but also to think up techniques of training, to fulfill mechanisms of management of sportsmen and colleagues, to be a spring of ideas in the International Federation and in the European Fencing Confederation.
At the competitions I observed how Belkina, just warmed up her fencers in a trainer's jacket, in a few minutes were standing at a frame, and charged positive energy to the pupils, and in 5 minutes discussed problems of Wheelchair fencing development with the management of the International Federation. By the way, in Malchow , Elena’s dream has come true; the decision that the first World Championship would take place this year in Czech Republic among wheelchair children is accepted. And in fact the idea of carrying out these children's competitions belongs to Belkina! I have talked to all our guys during tournament and have been inspired by them with respect and love. In spite of the fact that some of them did not leave their houses before fencing. Now they try not to make sports only purpose of their life. Everyone studies at schools, institutes, postgraduate studies. The some people already receive the second higher education including sports to become fencing coaches in future, actively work in the Wheelchair Fencing Federation of Russia, performing the work of the general secretary of the Federation, the press attaché, the lawyer, being engaged in computer maintenance, visas and booking for competitions, even independently count their ranking. Elena Belkina insists on the idea that everybody should get driving license and save money for cars. But it is such a pity that in attitudes towards Paralympics is not the same in all regions. As I have found out, two persons from the team who have arrived to Germany, Alexander Kurzin from Cherepovets and Igor Ushakov from Kursk, prepared for the competitions independently at home and couldn’t find coaches to train. Sports on wheelchairs have the features which should be clear and not underestimated by able bodied fencers. Sometimes it seems, that it is not necessary to move on a peiste during a fight, and the techniques is based hands and body movement. But here is the main difficulty and pressure. After the referee’s command: « Go! » high speed active actions with a blade begin at once on very close distance. If you hesitate for the moment, you have already lost. Our outstanding epee fencer Pavel Kolobkov, who comes sometimes to fence in wheelchairs, has told me, that even to him it was very difficult to get ready for such hard work. Here it is impossible to pull time, to work on deduction of the account, to have a rest, having broken off the distance. Only to work, work, and work. And therefore merits of our sportsmen are difficult for overestimating. In Malchow the competitions were organized perfectly. There was residing at the rehabilitation center, an excellent food, and transport which smoothly went from hospital up to the venue even during the snow drifts which had paralyzed movement on many motorways in Germany. The inhabitants of this small town have told us, they have not had that much snow in 30 years!  All the organization loading of competitions was laid on Alexander Bondar’s shoulders. His father Michail, the well- known Ukrainian fencer, had left Odessa for Germany in 1996 and with pride spoke that he could continue his favorite business. Michael leads a club in Rostock developing 7 kinds of sports including fencing, and Alexander works with wheelchair sportsmen.
The member of the International Wheelchair Fencing Committee, an Englishman Neil Ross, who fenced before the election on this post, gave the high estimation for the organization.  «I see the aim of our committee to make sportsmen from Africa and Latin America to represent their countries in the following Paralympic Games, Neil said. In Malchow I was amazed that the young Russian team acted in all kinds of the program, and in fact it does not have such traditions of the Wheelchair fencing development, as in Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Hong Kong, Greece, Hungary, and Ukraine. I applauded with pleasure to your children who are so self-denyingly fighting on paths». Ross has noted, what exactly in Malchow in two years will be final competition for Paralympic Games-2012 in London which would begin in the World Championship in Paris in November this year.
Tatiana Kolchanova Translator Ksenia Ovsyannikova
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