MEDIA RELEASE 

3 December 2023 

NORTH MELBOURNE – Victorian fencer Salma Ahmed yesterday won the Australian Youth Circuit Girls’ Foil event at the 2023 Australian and Oceania Senior, Veteran, and Australian Youth Circuit Fencing Championships.  

She got started in fencing when she was given a flier at school five years ago. “I was already whacking my poor dad with plastic swords, so we went and we gave it a try.”

She spoke about what she enjoys about fencing: “I like overall the mental game of fencing. I like that I have to be strategic and thinking about each move. I like that it’s very quick and fast-paced.” She noted that strategy includes “the way you move on the piste, where you put your blade, your footwork”.

Her dad, Mustafa, added, “I’ll quote something she told me before. She was saying, ‘I’m having a dialogue on the piste.’” 

She said, “Yeah, I’m ‘talking’ with my opponent, it’s their turn or my turn.”

Salma has international ambitions not only for herself but for Australian fencing in general. “I want to see [Australian fencing] taken more seriously,” she said. “I want more training camps, more people at competitions. I want overall a better understanding of the [international] rules.”

Her dad said, “I hope the sport will grow, because the more people who join, the more we get traction.”

Salma added, “More funding would help, as well as more confidence among the fencers. I know in my club, we have more people fencing than competing, because they’re too nervous or scared to go up into competitions.”

Results for each event are being posted in real time at

https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/8284EE098F63431FA0F03B468EE30E0A#today

The 2023 Australian and Oceania Senior, Veteran, and Australian Youth Circuit Fencing Championships continue through Tuesday, 5 December. Photo and interview opportunities with competitors will be available throughout the competition. 

Photo credit: Ed Chiu

For more information

Laura E. Goodin
Media Officer
media@fencingvictoria.org