Characteristics of the Wheelchair Fencing Events
Wheelchair fencing is a sport specifically designed according to the characteristics of athletes with lower limb disabilities (including amputees, polio, cerebral palsy, and paraplegia). For the audience, the most distinct feature of wheelchair fencing is that both athletes' wheelchairs are fixed on an adjustable track frame during the competition. However, despite sitting in such wheelchairs where they can only freely move the upper part of their bodies, their speed of striking does not lag behind that of able-bodied athletes, and it may even be faster.
Key Points of Wheelchair Fencing Competition Rules
Due to continuous improvements in the technology for fixing wheelchairs on the competition site, the competition rules for wheelchair fencing have also been adaptively modified accordingly. The main rules are as follows:
(1) The distance between athletes is determined by the length of the arm of the athlete with the shorter arm when holding the sword horizontally, ensuring the tip touches the opponent's elbow (for foil, the tip should touch the inside of the forearm). Moreover, once the distance between the two athletes is agreed upon and set, it cannot be altered.
(2) During the match, neither competitor's wheelchair is allowed to move; the athlete’s hips must remain in contact with the wheelchair seat, and both feet must stay fixed on the footrests. It is considered a foul if the athlete uses the ground to gain any advantage through their feet.
(3) If an athlete loses balance, changes sitting posture, or if the wheelchair becomes loose, or the grounding clamp detaches, the referee must immediately stop the game.
(4) In order to reduce the adjustment time of the fencing frame, the competition often adopts a scheduling order where one athlete remains on the field after each match. There must be enough staff to ensure athletes can quickly get on and off the fencing frame.
(5) In competitions, the valid target areas hit will vary depending on the functional classification: Grade A includes all parts above the legs, while Grade B includes all parts above the waist.
(6) The main competition rules are similar to those of able-bodied fencing. Athletes wear sensors connected to a signal box that records hits made by the sword. Each time a fencer strikes the opponent's valid target area, they score a point.
(7) Before the official start of the competition, authorized classification experts from the International Wheelchair Fencing Committee carefully examine and test each athlete to determine their functional classification. Athletes must strictly adhere to the classification regulations and cannot participate in competitions beyond their own level. Grade B fencers can participate in Grade A competitions but must declare this at registration and can only compete in Grade A events throughout the entire competition. Athletes who do not participate in competitions according to their designated classification will not receive any ranking points.
(8) In any given competition, athletes cannot register for more than two types of sword events, including individual and team competitions.