Fencing Competition Concluded
Phnom Penh, 9 June 2026
The fencing competition in the National University and Technical Secondary School Games concluded on June 8, 2026, by the presidency of His Excellency Te Laurent, President of the Cambodia Fencing Federation.
The competition was authorized by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports to be co-organized from June 5 to June 8, 2026, at The Olympia Mall. A total of 43 fencers, including 21 women fencers from 8 higher education institutions, participated and competed in 6 individual events. As a result of the competition, Asia Euro University took the lead, winning 2 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals, while Life University also secured 2 gold medals. Meanwhile, the National University of Management and Western University-Kandal each won one gold medal.
Notably, even though the Institute of Banking Studies had only one athlete and competed in only one sport category in the games, she was able to win 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. Due to the technical regulations, a single fencer was allowed to register in a maximum of 2 events.
His Excellency Te Laurent requested the participation of other universities to help promote this sport more actively and make it popular in Cambodia. He noted that this sport is a traditional sport from European countries and is not native to Cambodia. Consequently, its popularity remains somewhat limited. Therefore, the participation of universities plays a vital role in promoting this sport, especially among the Gen Z generation, who are a major driving force in accelerating development across all sectors.
Furthermore, this year's competition aligns with the theme "Sports for Education." That means, physical exercise builds essential life skills that intellectuals cannot learn on their own. Sports promote holistic development by fostering discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. Exercise also reduces stress and enhances focus, which is vital for mental health and helps maximize classroom learning.
In Cambodia, there are approximately 69 sports, categorized into groups based on technical levels related to physical fitness and intellect, such as time-based, team, and intellectual sports.
Therefore, incorporating fencing into the higher education curriculum offers additional benefits for soft skills and reinforcing teamwork, which include:
Character Building: Sports teach perseverance, goal-setting, and how to handle results (both winning and losing) gracefully.
Life Skills: Playing on a team develops vital communication, cooperation, and leadership skills needed in future workplaces.
Cognitive Function: Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, directly boosting memory, concentration, and problem-solving abilities.
Emotional Well-being: Engaging in physical activity helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing endorphins.
