Irma Khetsuriani

Paralympic glory is the aim for Georgia’s world champion wheelchair fencer.

GEORGIA’S para fencing squad consists of five athletes, all women, with world champion Irma Khetsuriani leading the way. After claiming World Cup gold 11 times with the sabre, she finally fulfilled her dream of officially becoming the best in the world in Rome last year. It was a proud moment for Khetsuriani who has also worked as an office manager at the Georgian Paralympic Committee in Tbilisi, and is keen to promote parasports and women in sport as a BP athlete ambassador.

“Today, Georgia’s para fencing team consists of five athletes and we all have one big similarity - we are all women. We have a very good team and, in my opinion, it is becoming even stronger,” she told Agility. “In our country, fencing is first among the parasports in terms of results. Society has learned about this fantastic sport whereas a few years ago they only knew about it from films and books.” “Today, it puts a smile on my face when different parts of our society recognise me and even ask me to explain more about fencing!

“When I decided to try fencing, I wanted to have at least a minor influence on others. As you may be aware, there was a tough environment for the disabled community in Georgia. “I always wanted my achievements to be the subject of someone’s interest - for them to think how this sport can change a person not only by physical parameters but personally. So I will not be entirely successful in my sports career if I cannot be a source of inspiration for at least one person.”

Reflecting on her World Championship triumph last November – which saw her overcome London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medalist Saysunee Jana - Khetsuriani admits it was a proud moment for her and her country. She continued: “At last I achieved what I have planned for and finally won the world title. To be the champion of the planet in fencing with sabre in Category B among women is a different feeling - truly exiting and emotional.

“Only winning at the Paralympic Games will surpass that feeling of being world champion. It was also the result of my team’s tireless work. A real sense of pride fills you when you listen to your country’s national anthem and watch the flag representing your small country. All these things are difficult to experience without tears!” She added: “I improve my results every time, quality wise.” “Despite the fact that fencing is such a tough sport and it needs quite a long time to master, I still believe that there is plenty of progress and improvement to come in my sports career.”

Having been diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour at the age of 18, Khetsuriani was first introduced to wheelchair fencing by a friend, and immediately found a love for the sport. She explained: “It is a sport that once tried is never forgotten. Even during my holidays I miss it! “I always want to improve, and every result and victory is a stimulus for me to progress for the next competition. When you love what you do you do not need a boost - you just love it and do it.”

“Fencing has brought the most active and interesting phase of my life. When I first went to the class I thought I would just become an amateur. I found such a friendly atmosphere there that I immediately loved it. It completely changed my life, and I realised it was attracting me more and more and making me stay in the class for a long time. “It taught me that if you do the job you love everything else is circumstantial. It is thanks to fencing and maybe a little bit to my inner freedom that today I am an absolutely different thinker. It taught me patience, respect for competitors, love for work and taking great enjoyment in my fencing.”

Discussing how she has focused 100 per cent on fencing in recent times, Khetsuriani said: “Doing two jobs you like at the same time is not easy, but I liked my office manager job at the Paralympic committee. It was a new and quite demanding role. I had no experience and was learning all the time, absorbing every piece of information I had. “When you train six days a week, five hours a day, you do not get tired because you’re doing what you love. When I realised that fencing had developed deep roots in me I was reluctant to devote any time to anything else - I faced the choice and I chose fencing. “Today my new life is quite busy, but the main direction of my life is this sport. All my energy, strength and thinking is needed to achieve specific results. Therefore, I do not have time for something else.”

Looking forward, Khetsuriani and her compatriots are looking forward to competing in their own country when the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup heads to Tbilisi in November. That signals the start of the qualification period for the 2020 Paralympics Games in Tokyo. This year’s action also sees the European Championships in Italy in September, with another World Cup event in Kyoto, Japan later in the year. “Many days, weeks, months and years of hard work, from myself and my team are directed towards the biggest competition, the Paralympic Games,” she added. “I believe I will have my say in Tokyo, and will show my quality too. The Paralympics are the event where you develop your sport knowledge - theoretical and practical - to the highest level.”•