RP claims girls team foil bronze

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines took its first medal in the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships, winning the bronze in the cadet girls’ team foil at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

RP’s Karen Pangilinan, Justine Gail Tinio and Andrea Pangilinan overpowered Australia’s Catherine Tierney, Emily Marotta and Lishan Sung, 45-34, to barge into the semifinals for a sure bronze medal.

But the RP troika bowed to Yuki Yasuda, Risa Kawamura, Fuko Takahashi and Kaho Nagase, 22-45, and missed a crack at the gold medal in the 10-day meet organized by the Fencing Confederation of Asia headed by Celso Dayrit and the Philippine Fencing Association and backed by Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping.

The Japanese went on to win the gold with a 34-25 victory over Hong Kong’s Cheng Hiu Lam, Cheng Hiu Wai and Ho Kelly Long Sze in the finals of the meet that drew 500 participants from across the region.

It was Japan’s fourth win following earlier triumphs by Riki Oishi in the individual cadet foil and cadet team foil and Yuki Yasuda in the individual cadet boys’ saber event.

The semifinal finish, however, was enough to give the Filipinos something to cheer about.

“We must admit the competition here is strong but the performance of the cadet girls’ team was very good although we expect more for the juniors team in all levels,” said Dayrit.

“This is also a good preparation and exposure for our young fencers,” he added. – Joey Villar