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Usmanov inducted into the National Fencing Hall of Fame

Billionaire Alisher Usmanov is included in the Hall of Fame of national fencing. In his youth, he was a member of his native Uzbekistan’s national team and now heads the International Fencing Federation

Businessman Alisher Usmanov #7 was included in the Hall of Fame of national fencing, the Russian Fencing Federation (FFR) reported. The billionaire was included in the Fencing Family nomination, which includes those who have made a significant contribution to the development of fencing, but who are not athletes or coaches.

Usmanov practiced fencing himself in his youth. He was a member of Uzbekistan’s junior and main teams at the All-Union level and was awarded the title of master of sports, according to the billionaire’s Hall of Fame page. Since 2008 Usmanov has headed the International Fencing Federation; before that he headed the Russian Fencing Federation and the European Fencing Confederation. The businessman also founded the charity foundation “For the Future of Fencing.

The Fencing Hall of Fame is a virtual museum of the FIE. It includes people who made a notable contribution to the development and promotion of fencing in the USSR and Russia. Apart from Usmanov, there are 22 other people there. Together with the businessman, the list includes coach Lev Saichuk and athletes Yakov Rylsky, Tatiana Samusenko and Viktor Sidyak.