WILTSHIRE fencer Philip Marsh is feeling sharper than ever as he bids to book a place at the Olympic Games in next weekend’s European qualifier.

After finishing the pre-Olympic season top of the epee rankings for British men, Winsley’s Marsh has given himself a shot at securing a berth in Rio this summer outright.

However, that depends on how he fares in the European Qualification Tournament in Prague, which gets under way on April 16.

Marsh will have to take on the best swordsmen from European nations yet to qualify an entrant for the Games, but with only the overall event winner going on to Brazil, it is sure to be a cut-throat competition.

Although the odds may be stacked against him, Marsh says he will travel to the Czech Republic determined to give qualification his best stab.

“I’d love to be at the Olympics but I’m still trying to qualify right now,” explained the 21-year-old.

“I’m the top-ranked Brit and that’s got me into a European zone qualification tournament.

“Every nation that hasn’t already qualified someone for the Games will be there. There will be about 25 competitors there and I know it’s going to be a tough event.

“The European nations are very strong when it comes to fencing, and although some of the stronger countries won’t be there because they’ve already qualified, it’s still going to be a field full of quality.

“The silver medallist from the last Olympics (Bartosz Piasecki) is going to be there and he probably isn’t one of the favourites to win in Prague.

“I’m feeling really good about it. I have been training really hard to try to qualify for the Olympics and I just have to go to this event believing that I can do well.

“I’ve had a good season, my best so far, and I’m going in as the British number one, so I have to try to take confidence from that.

“On my day, I know I am a really good fencer and am capable of beating anyone – I just have to hope that day is while I am in Prague.”

When not on the piste, Marsh is undertaking a Chemistry degree at Bristol University, although he admits his studies have played more of a supporting role in recent months.

“Unfortunately, the Chemistry is not going quite as well as the fencing at the moment because I have had to dedicate so much time to training,” added Marsh.

“Hopefully, I can qualify for the Olympics and then put back my exams for a year. If not, I have got a lot of work to catch up on.”