Bronze medal for Pinay

Southeast Asian Games-bound Maxine Isabel Esteban took the bronze medal in the President’s Cup Open fencing championships that concluded Sunday in Hong Kong.

Fresh from her first-ever stint in the world fencing championships in Leipzig, Germany, the 16-year-old fencer was the lone Filipino medalist in the two-day international event.

Esteban topped her group, winning five of six matches to reach the knockout phase.

Seeded sixth, Esteban drew a bye in the first round before disposing of Kelly Ho Long Sze of Hong Kong, 1511.

In the quarterfinals, Esteban survived another close match, edging third-ranked Lee Areta of HK, 15-14.

In a virtual preview of the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Esteban bowed to Singapore No. 1 Nicole Wong, 15-4.

Wong, however, lost to top seed Liu Yan Wai, 15-14, in the final.