Niche sports broaden children's horizons

Practical purposes

Last year, Chen Hui, a 33-year-old e-commerce employee in Shanghai, started taking her 6-year-old son to fencing lessons after learning that a good standard can help students with college applications.

"I heard about it from other parents and I don't want my son to be left behind. If he learns well, it will be useful in the future. At least, it's a more exclusive pursuit than other sports because not many kids follow it," she said.

Jiang, the coach, said that when young learners practice fencing for several years, parents often have more practical motives.

For example, they hope that their child will win prizes in competitions or even gain admittance to top universities via their fencing skills.

Some of the students from his club have been admitted to Tsinghua University in Beijing, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Duke University in the United States and renowned schools at home and abroad as a result of their abilities.

"Universities need some students who are good at fencing to represent them in competitions. These students may not get into elite universities if they simply rely on their academic performance," he said.

However, in addition to excellent fencing skills, applicants need to show enough academic prowess in the entrance examination to gain admittance to these universities.

It takes years of practice to reach a high level in fencing. Students have to train at the club for two hours, three or four times a week, after school, according to Jiang.

During his 11 years at the club, he has taught about 600 children, but fewer than 20 have managed to continue practicing as a long-term hobby after leaving the club.