With the Tokyo Paralympics in full swing, young Brackley star Abigail Marshall relished the chance to watch wheelchair fencing on the big stage for the first time since taking up the sport.

Marshall became disabled in 2017 due to her hip and leg deformities and admitted that she hadn’t watched much fencing before giving it a go herself.

And having waited an extra year when the Games were postponed, it’s fair to say she’s loved watching the likes of Piers Gilliver and Dimitri Coutya take the big stage in Japan by storm.

The 18-year-old said: “I've been excited to watch it because this is the first time since I became disabled and since I started my sport. I've been waiting for it! 

“I didn't really watch it a lot and I knew it was a thing but I wasn’t into it before I started. 

“I was looking for some sports to do in a wheelchair, and I looked locally, and I found the fencing. My mum found it on the internet and I had a go at it and I really enjoyed it, so I carried on.  

Hillingdon Times: Marshall will hope to follow in the footsteps of Piers Gilliver, Oliver Lam-Watson and Dimitri Coutya who won medals in Tokyo for ParalympicsGBMarshall will hope to follow in the footsteps of Piers Gilliver, Oliver Lam-Watson and Dimitri Coutya who won medals in Tokyo for ParalympicsGB

“I wasn't expecting it to be as active as it was, but actually, it’s quite active. You have to move quite a lot, but also when you spar against people you have to think of different ways to attack them to get points, and I quite like that side of it as well.” 

Marshall’s burgeoning career is fuelled by an innovative partnership between Entain – owner of Ladbrokes and Coral – and leading sports charity SportsAid.

ParalympicsGB enjoyed a wheelchair fencing campaign to savour as Gilliver, Coutya and debutant Oliver Lam-Watson all racked up medals.

Gilliver – who won silver in Rio – triumphed in the individual epee A category, Coutya banked two bronze medals in the individual epee and foil B categories and the trio finished third in the team epee event.

And Marshall, who was following her heroes’ progress closely, added: “Sometimes there's been training camps where I’ve fenced with them – I competed with them abroad in France.

Hillingdon Times: Marshall plans to use her SportsAid funding to help her attend international competitionsMarshall plans to use her SportsAid funding to help her attend international competitions

“It’s quite amazing – when I first went to a  camp I wasn't expecting anyone from ParalympicsGB to be there, and then there was just a load of them – which was quite cool actually.” 

165 of the 227 members of the ParalympicsGB squad in Tokyo have received financial support and recognition from SportsAid – like Marshall – during their careers.

And the Buckinghamshire ace is determined to follow in their footsteps, adding: “I haven't gone to an international competition yet but I hope to go to those and hopefully get as far as I can.

“I haven't really thought too far ahead – but obviously it would be great to go to Paris 2024.” 

Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup.com to find out more.