The sport of fencing is not normally associated with Newham, but Jai Birch a young man born at Newham University Hospital and living in Stratford is one of England’s top competitors in the art of sword play.

He took up fencing as a schoolboy at Woodgrange and Goodwin, and continued his passionate pursuit of the sport at Westminster University, where he studied psychology.

He anchored the first British team to win a Bronze medal for fencing at the Under 20 World Championships. He continues to progress and aims to become an Olympian.

But funding for the sport is a problem. He had a break due to the loss of UK sport funding in 2016, but started competing on the internal circuit again recently. At the nationals he defeated the Olympic representative for Team GB in Tokyo 2020 and came third. This result allows him to compete internationally again.

Jai had opportunities to attend Olympic qualifying events in Tokyo, Cairo and Anaheim in the United States. But he couldn’t go due to lack of funding to cover the expenses involved.

But he believes in his ability to compete on the world stage and took part in the ranking tournament in Paris, a tough competition with 250 athletes, but he achieved Britain’s best result, reaching the last 16 and only losing out to the home favourite, Maxime Pauty, by one very close hit. His next target is the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament in Dubai this December.

For largely historical reasons, the funding for fencing is uncertain, but Jai has achieved much, largely thanks to his mum. But although young he has vast experience and has turned to coaching where he to share his experience and ideas to aspiring youngsters while still pursuing his own dreams of Olympic qualification.

But with expensive premises to pay for, the cost is a burden and may limit how many youngsters can benefit from this rare individual’s talents. It’s also a problem that still casts a shadow over his olympic dreams.

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