Organisers of the inaugural Dubai Fencing Club (DFC) Open Fencing Tournament are expecting a full field for the competition scheduled to be held next Friday.

The DFC Open Fencing Tournament - sponsored by Mercedes Benz Garghash Enterprises, Innovative Human Recourse Solutions and Isostar - will be held only in the epee category at Mina A'Salam Hotel.

Mihail Kouzev, the chief organiser of the competition, said that they are expecting between 35 to 40 fencers from all over the UAE to participate in this competition.

"There are clubs in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and here in Dubai who have shown their willingness to participate in our competition," Kouzev stated.

Eight fencers from the Metropolitan Hotel-based International Fencing Club have already confirmed their participation.

Competition will start at 8.30 am with the women, and will be followed by the men's contest at 11.30 am. The team events will be held at 5.30 pm. The presentations will be after every event.

"Fencing is an Olympic sport and we are quite to ensure that the authorities here turn their attention to this sport with the 2006 Qatar Asian Games in mind," Kouzev said.

The last date for receiving entries is August 24. Further information can be had from the website www.dubaifencingclub.com.