6 PH FENCERS AIM FOR OLYMPIC SPOTS

THE Philippine fencing team left the country Wednesday night to compete in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament slated on April 25-26 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Vying for Olympic slots are 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jylyn Nicanor and CJ Concepcion in the sabre event, Hanniel Abella and Noelito Jose in the epee event and Nathaniel Perez and former UAAP juniors MVP Samantha Catantan in the foil event.

With the exception of Catantan, who recently won bronze medal and helped Penn State University clinch runner-up honors in the US NCAA Fencing Championships, the Filipino fencers were joined by national head coach Roland Canlas and Armand Bernal in a 9:30 flight to Istanbul where the former University of the East champion fencer will join the team.

The national fencing team underwent two-month bubble training in Ormoc City under the supervision of Mayor Richard Gomez, who is also president of the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA).

“Lahat ng mga players natin na pupunta for Tashkent, lahat sila naghanda talaga. They tried their best na makaperform sila ng mabuti. Ang laro kasi ng fencing, kung minsan, pag maganda ang gising mo, maganda ang galaw mo, posibleng makakuha ka ng Olympic slot,” said Gomez, a SEA Games gold medalist, himself.

“That is what we praying for na pagdating sa Tashkent, on the day of the competition, I'm hoping na makalaro sila ng mabuti. Matagal na tayong walang pinapadala na fencer sa Olympics, and I'm hoping na meron tayong maipadala from this batch.”

The only Filipino fencers to have ever played in the Olympic Games are Percival Alger in 1988 and Walter Torres in 1992.

“They really have to win all their games in Tashkent. Isang slot lang ang pinaglalabanan ng bawat weapon for men and women. Talagang mabigat ang laban nila,” said Gomez at the special Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports Usapang Sports online forum last Saturday.

Twenty fencers joined the bubble camp in Ormoc including national athletes who are slated to compete in the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games from November 21 to December 2.

The PFA is aiming to improve on its 2019 SEA Games medal haul of two golds, two silvers and seven bronze medals.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Members of the Philippine fencing team pose before boarding a flight to Istanbul Wednesday night at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.