The Kendo Federation of Moldova will take part in the European Kendo Championship for the first time this year. At the competition housed by Macedonia’s Skopje, Moldova will be represented by eight Kendokas, IPN reports.

According to a press release of the Federation, the Moldovan team will take part in two categories – men’s and men’s individual. On this occasion, an intensive training session under the guidance of Paul Budden from the UK, 7 Dan Kendo, will be staged between March 18 and March 21.

“For us, the participation in the European Kendo Championship is very important. The Federation and the team made huge effort to prepare for the competition and to make this participation possible. The participation in training sessions under the guidance of well-known sensei like Paul Budden is an important aspect for Kendokas,” said the Kendo Federation’s president Vitalie Oncea, 3 Dan Kendo.

The 26th European Kendo Championship will take place between March 31 and April 3. This is the most prestigious and important Kendo competition on the European continent. It will bring together 37 national teams, including of Romania, Ukraine and Russia.

In Moldova, Kendo started to be done in 1995. The Kendo Federation of Moldova was founded on March 27, 2000. The Federation deals with the promotion and strengthening of the community of Kendo and Iaido fighters. There are now about 30 Kendokas in Moldova.