Young fencing talent

Fencer defies the odds and goes to the World Championships

Markus Deisl (left) has qualified for the U20 World Championships.(Bild: zVg)

Markus Deisl qualified for the U20 World and European Championships. This took a lot of weight off the Pongau native's shoulders. In addition to the battles on the mat, however, he faces completely different challenges.

Qualifying for the U20 World and European Championships was a load off Markus Deisl's (ASVÖ Fencing Club Salzburg) mind. The fencer got his ticket early in the season and has already achieved a major goal. The 19-year-old epee fencer will be competing with club colleague Gregor Mack (foil) at the European Championships in Antalya, Turkey, from February 24 to March 1. The World Championships will be held in Wuxi, China, at the beginning of April.

The enthusiastic physicist, who wants to study in Vienna after his civilian service, discovered his passion for fencing at an early age. "I started at the age of eight, back then in St. Johann," says Deisl. He now travels to Salzburg for training, but this poses major challenges: "It's quite exhausting with the traffic jams. But because training is only late in the evening, it works out well with my community service."