Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) – 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jylyn Nicanor and two other Filipino fencers failed to clinch a slot in this year’s Tokyo Olympics as the Philippines ended its campaign in the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifiers on Monday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Nicanor, who competed in the women’s sabre event, succumbed to Hong Kong’s Hin Wai Lam in the quarterfinals with a score of 12-15. The Filipina earned a first round bye in the knockout stage after winning half of her matches in pool play.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Perez absorbed a shock 9-15 loss against Chinese Taipei’s Chih Chieh Chen in their men’s foil round-of-16 match.
Perez emerged as the best fencer in the pool round after beating all his six opponents, but could not sustain his rousing start as he faced the Chinese Taipei bet.
Haniel Abella also failed to book an Olympic ticket in the women’s epee event after being dominated by Mongolia’s Amarzaya Batsaikhan in the round of 16. Abella clinched the last seat in the knockout rounds after recording a 2-3 record in the pool play.
Samantha Catantan, CJ Concepcion, and Noelito Jose Jr. were also unsuccessful in their Olympic bids on Sunday.
The Filipino fencers are now setting their sights on the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in November.
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