HK fencers earn 1st gold in Asian tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Hong Kong nailed its first gold medal even as Japan continued its domination of the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Kong Man Wai surprised Kim Kyo Yun of Korea, 15-13, in the individual epee finale to give Hong Kong their first victory in the junior division of the 10-day event organized by the Fencing Confederation of Asia headed by Celso Dayrit and the Philippine Fencing Association.

Ryo Miyake, meanwhile, trounced Korean Jeon Seung Bae, 15-13, to capture the men’s individual foil gold and keep the Japanese on top of the medal board.

Japan’s Yuki Yasuda, Risa Kawamura, Fuko Takahashi and Kaho Nagase topped the girls’ team foil, Riki Oishi the individual cadet foil and cadet team foil and Yuki Yasuda the individual cadet boys’ saber event.

Meanwhile, Fil-Am ace Mia Howell gets to see action as she competes in the foil team event tomorrow.

Howell is tipped as a medal contender following a silver medal finish in the Cadet Girls event in the same meet in Kazakhstan two years ago.

The event drew the participation of the best fencers in the region as well as in Oceania.

The tournament, for age 20 years old and below, stakes 96 medals in 24 events. – Joey Villar