DALGETY BAY fencing star Kate Daykin says she's "honoured" after being selected to compete at the senior World Championships.

The 22-year-old, a former member of West Fife Fencing Club, is one of 17 competitors that will travel to Budapest, Hungary, for the FIE (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime) World Championships, which begin on Monday, July 15.

Kate, a Heriot-Watt University graduate, had her place in the Great Britain team confirmed by British Fencing last week and is one of four who will represent her country in the women's sabre competition.

It comes after selectors awarded the women's sabre team a discretionary selection after taking into account a number of factors, including the team coming within one hit of reaching the last eight at the recent European Championships, a significant climb in their world ranking and team members demonstrating their commitment to training, including "making life choices to allow them to train at the level to support international performance improvements".

Selection for the competition follows on from a successful 2019 so far for Kate, who competes for, and coaches with, the Perth-based Salle Ossian Fencing Club, which has included clinching a British under-23 title and competing at senior World Cup competitions, one of which included an eighth-place finish in Austria.

She was also selected for the Under-23 European Championships, which were held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, between May 29 and June 2, and put forward by British Fencing for the World University Games.

The Games, which are being held for the 30th time, began yesterday (Wednesday) and will continue until July 14, and will feature 18 sports, including water polo, judo, athletics, swimming and football.

Kate is set to compete in both the individual and team events and previously told the Press that she was going to "have fun and enjoy the experience" in what she said was her last opportunity to take part.

She will then make her way to Budapest for her first senior World Championship, having competed for GB at last year's Senior European Fencing Championships in Serbia, and commented: "This is an exciting opportunity and I feel feel really honoured to be selected for it.

"Last year, I graduated from Heriot-Watt University and I am now able to train full-time and, to help fund my fencing, I also coach several after-school and community classes hoping to encourage and promote fencing as a sport in Scotland."

Despite her selection, Kate does not receive funding for her fencing, and has opened a gofundme page that she hopes can take her to the Olympic Games.

She added: "Any support would be greatly appreciated as I start my five-year plan towards the 2024 Olympics. To be selected, I have to compete in several international World Cups and Grand Prix, which can range from France to South Korea – which is no small feat for me as one fencing season could cost me well over £3,000."

If anyone would like to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/KDaykin-fencing-journey.