By Naranbat Serjmaa
OCA Youth Reporter from Mongolia
Nagoya, Japan, September 27, 2026: "World champion Misaki Emura donated a massive amount of gear. Honestly, she gave almost everything," reveals Ma Zhen from the AINAGOC Sports Planning Section, opening up about the overwhelming support for the International Fencing Federation’s equipment drive at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
Emura, a star in women's sabre who captured two individual World Championship gold medals and an Olympic bronze medal in the team event at the Paris 2024 Games, set a powerful example for the sport.
Ma Zhen lists her contribution piece by piece, detailing how she handed over a jacket, lamé, pants, grip, guard, blades, shoes, socks, body cords and even a testing machine to help equip emerging athletes.
She was far from the only Olympic star to sign the venue's official donation log. Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist and men's foil team World Champion Kazuki Iimura also stepped up, contributing a competition blade.
Support poured in from across the local Japanese fencing community as well. Representatives from local club Yokohama Fencers and Masahiro Kimura turned in a set containing a glove, nylon uniform, blade and shoes.
Meanwhile, KL Sports representatives Kyozo Abe and Kazuharu Tatsusaka contributed a fencing mask, gloves and protective chest guard. Individual supporters like Eina Yasuda donated a mask, trousers and three weapon handles, Kosuke Iida dropped off a metal jacket, Kazuki Nagano gave a mask and Koki Kato contributed a fencing glove.
The entire project rests on a straightforward mission to make the sport accessible to everyone worldwide. "We encourage people to donate their second-hand or unused gear to developing countries that want to grow fencing but lack equipment," Ma Zhen explains.
Bringing this collection hub directly to the Asian Games marks a historic milestone for the international federation. "Normally, we arrange these onsite booths during major global events like the Senior, Junior, or Cadet World Championships," Ma Zhen notes. "Hosting this drive at the Asian Games is a first."
He is quick to clarify that these items are designated specifically for practicing rather than high-stakes tournament play. "None of this gear will be used for formal matches," Ma Zhen emphasizes. "Most of it is strictly intended for training."
To ensure the equipment reaches the programs that need it most, officials coordinate directly with visiting national teams on site. "We evaluate which countries need support and reach out to their delegation representatives," Ma Zhen says. "If they tell us what they need, we coordinate with them right here so they can take the gear back home."
Safety and practical utility are vetted carefully before anything changes hands. "Before any equipment is handed over, our technical officials inspect every piece to ensure it is safe and usable for training," Ma Zhen stresses.
"We calculate exactly how much and what kind of gear should go to each country," Ma Zhen adds. "For instance, if a country doesn't have a saber program, we won't send them saber gear, we will allocate it to a nation that does."
The response from local Japanese fans has been just as inspiring as the contributions from elite stars. "The news was posted on the Japanese Fencing Federation website, so spectators saw it and brought their retired gear to the venue," Ma Zhen shares.
"We even had visitors walk up unannounced to drop off equipment," Ma Zhen smiles. "It shows how engaged the community really is."
While gear collection is the main focus at the booth, it operates under a broader FIE banner led by the federation's development director. Ma Zhen notes that this umbrella educational program also briefly features Fencing for the Planet displays where broken blades are upcycled into kitchen knives, interactive teamwork games with the World Fair Play Committee, Safe Sport confidential reporting for bullying or harassment and Clean Sport anti-doping guidance.
Yet, as athletes and local fans keep stopping by to fill out the donation forms, the gear drive remains the standout highlight of the venue. "Seeing everyone come together for this has been amazing," Ma Zhen reflects. "Everyone really feels like this is a great idea."
