2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics: South African fencer aiming to compete in Japan

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02:13

To South Africa, where a promising young fencer has his sights set on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Pavel Tyshler moved from junior competition to the senior level with his debut at the recent World Championships. CGTN's Julie Shyer has more on this 20-year-old, who was pretty much born to handle a weapon.

The blood of fencing masters flows through Pavel Tyshler's veins. The 20-year-old comes from a long line of internationally-acclaimed swordsmen. He's been able to handle a sabre since the age of seven.

PAVEL TYSHLER SOUTH AFRICA FENCER "I started because my father was a coach, and his father was a coach, and my mom was a top-level fencer. At first, I was not really on board of the whole fencing idea, and then as I got better at it, I understood more of the small aspects and the small details that make the sport. I really enjoyed it."

Tyshler displayed a strong temperament and impeccable swordsmanship in his first senior World Championships.

PAVEL TYSHLER HAPPY WITH DEBUT AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS "I competed in the epee section in the group stages of the competition. It went pretty even; I lost three and won three; which was a good result for my first senior competition."

He was beaten by experience when he came up against the 2011 world champion, Italian Paolo Pizzo. But the youngster still managed a place in the last 64.

GENNADY TYSHLER SOUTH AFRICA COACH "The Top 64 is already the elite of world fencing. Practically anybody who is regularly getting into the Top 64 can win the world championship. We can't say that he is on that level yet, it was like one result, but that shows his potential."

Tyshler wants to continue the family tradition by making it to the Olympics.

PAVEL TYSHLER LOOKING TO QUALIFY FOR 2020 SUMMER OLYMPICS "My next big dream going forward is qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, and definitely to become a well-known fencer, someone that is known to be strong, and I think to achieve that dream, I probably would have to win medals at the Olympics or the World Championships."

To qualify for the Olympics, he will need to win the Africa qualification tournament or be highly ranked. Tyshler has the bloodline and the potential. But it will come down to who's quickest with the blade. JS, CGTN, JB, SA.