Two top-tier coaches from Iran and Italy are coming to the Philippines this January to help the Philippine national fencing team in its buildup for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok.
Alireza Taherkhani, Iran’s national coach for sabre, will work with licensed Italian epee coach Giorgio Guerrini, in getting the national squad in tiptop shape.
Philippine Fencing Association president Rene Gacuma said the Philippine Sports Commission is now assisting the PFA in its efforts to acquire their services next year.
“The PSC is working on their visa requirements as of this writing. Hopefully, they can be on board with the national fencing team by mid-January 2024,” said Gacuma.
Taherkhani was recommended to Gacuma by the Iran Fencing Federation and has been coaching in their national squad since 2006.
Many of Takerhani’s athletes have won medals in the Asian championship and at world-cup level tournaments.
On the other hand, Guerrini is a level 5-certified coach of the British Fencing Association, the highest certification given to a fencing coach.
Gacuma said the presence of the two coaches will help PFA in its ongoing buildup and the selection process for talented fencers who will make up the national team.
The federation just finished its fifth and final leg of its ranking tournament called the Francisco Dayrit Cup for the cadet and senior players.
The tournament evaluated the competitiveness of members of the national team.
Gacuma said they aim to at least earn three gold medals in the next SEA Games.
This was a goal that the national team failed to accomplish this year in Cambodia, when the they came back with only five silvers and five bronzes.