Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 24) – Six Filipino fencers are aiming for a possible Tokyo Olympics stint as they compete in the two-day Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament on Sunday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jylyn Nicanor and CJ Concepcion are the Philippine representatives in the sabre event.
Former UAAP Juniors Most Valuable Player and Penn State University standout Samantha Catantan joins Nathaniel Perez in the foil event.
Hanniel Abella and Noelito Jose represent the country in the epee event.
The Filipino fencers, mentored by Amat Canlas and Armand Bernal, left the country Wednesday night after undergoing a two-month bubble training in Ormoc City.
Philippine Fencing Association President Richard Gomez hopes the Filipino fencers can perform at their best level in Tashkent.
“Ang laro kasi ng fencing, kung minsan, pag maganda ang gising mo, maganda ang galaw mo, posibleng makakuha ka ng Olympic slot. That is what we praying for na pagdating sa Tashkent, on the day of the competition, I’m hoping na makalaro sila ng mabuti,” Gomez said in a virtual forum.
[Translation: In fencing, it is possible that you can get an Olympic slot when you wake up and move well. That is what we praying for when they arrived in Tashkent, on the day of the competition, I’m hoping they can perform well.]
So far, Percival Alger and Walter Torres are the only Filipinos who played in the Summer Olympics fencing competitions.
