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Star Wars fans around the world will be familiar with the lightsaber - a fictional luminous sword featured in the famous film franchise – but did you know it forms part of an official sport in France?

The sport of lightsaber duelling became a recognised sport in the country in 2019 and in 2023 saw the first ever French National Lightsaber Championships take place.

Similar to fencing, the sport works on a points-based system, with points awarded for landing blows to the opponent on different areas of the body.

Sportshour’s Caroline Barker speaks to Celine Marie Mercier, who is known as "Anxifera" and competed at the first national championships as well as being an ambassador for the sport.

Image: French Celine-Marie Mercier poses during the opening ceremony of the first French Lightsaber Championship at the Saint-Symphorien Sports Complex in Longeville-les-Metz, eastern France, on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Jean-Christophe Verhaegen / AFP via Getty Images)