Ying Fencing Club (Thailand), in collaboration with Pico Fencing Club (Iran), held the international fencing competition BANGKOK OPEN FENCING 2026 from 1-3 May 2026 at Suralai Hall, 7th floor, ICONSIAM.
Under the concept of Sport Tourism, over a thousand athletes and their families from 21 countries worldwide joined to drive the Thai economy and enhance its tourism image. Key sponsors included ICONSIAM, BMW Millennium Auto, MAMA, FBT, and Mont Fleur natural mineral water.
A special highlight of this competition was the significant contribution of Coach Hamed Shedagati, founder of Pico Fencing Club (Iran) and a member of the Leadership Team of Ying Fencing Club (Thailand). Known as Coach Hamed, he is the former head coach of Iran's national team and a medalist at top events such as the World Cup, Asian Games, and Asian Championships.
With his extensive international connections, Coach Hamed attracted top fencers worldwide to Thailand, allowing Thai athletes to develop skills by facing diverse opponents without traveling abroad. He also announced open enrollment for Thai children and youth passionate about fencing to join a professional training program aimed at grooming national representatives for the global stage.
Victor Lao, chairman of the organizing committee, said the key idea behind Bangkok Open Fencing 2026 is that instead of sending Thai athletes overseas at high costs, they bring world-class athletes to Thailand, giving Thai youth the opportunity to compete with top fencers from countries like Hong Kong and Korea without long-distance travel.
Typically, fencing competitions in Thailand attract about 600–700 participants. However, this collaboration increased participation to over 1,000, especially with a significant rise in foreign athletes. This set a new record for Thailand with more than 1,200 athletes from 21 countries, the highest in the past three years. The goal is to promote fencing as not just a European sport but one accessible and growing among Thais.
Coach Hamed Shedagati stated that Thailand has great potential to become a hub for Sports Tourism because both fencers and the Thai sports community have strong foundations. Their club aims to support the Thai Fencing Association by organizing such events, especially with many Iranian athletes participating to give Thai fencers the chance to learn and gain international experience.
The event was honored by the presence of important figures such as the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Zhang Ying (founder of Ying Fencing Club), a two-time world champion, and Coach Nanta Chantasuwansin, former national fencer and 18-time Thai champion who contributed to winning three Paralympic gold medals.
Additionally, the public and tourists celebrated the event with a dazzling drone light show forming characters above the Chao Phraya River at River Park, ICONSIAM.
The arrival of over 1,200 athletes along with their families, coaches, and supporters to Thailand is expected to bring the total number of foreign visitors to about 5,000. This influx is anticipated to generate significant economic circulation through spending in tourism, accommodation, transportation, and domestic consumption.
Therefore, this event is not only an international sports competition but also underscores the tangible positive economic impact for Thailand while reaffirming the country's potential as a global Sports Tourism destination.
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