Koreans, Kazakhs top Asian fencing

MANILA, Philippines - Korea lorded it over the field in women’s team epee event while Kazakhstan took the saber gold in the penultimate day of the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Lee Soon Hwa, Choi In Jung and Yoo Nan Ji steered the Koreans to a 45-25 win over Hong Kong’s Ma Caheuk Kwan, Kong Man Wai, Choi Natasha Erica and Chow Man Yan to capture the team epee gold.

Tamara Pochekutiva, Yuliya Zhivitsa and Anastassiya Gimatdinova, on the other hand, overpowered Japan’s Mami Itoh, Eriko Ueno and Norika Tamura, 45-28, to win the gold in the saber team event.

The Philippines’ Jenina Gatuz, Christine Almas and Norielyn Villaviray rallied from a 34-38 deficit going into the final round and eked out a 41-40 decision over Iran’s Mahsa Pourrahmatie, Bahareh Ghiyasabbadi and Sakineh Nouri to advance to the epee quarterfinals.

But the hosts lost steam and dropped a heartbreaking 42-45 setback to Hong Kong’s Ma Cheuk Kwan, Choi Natasha Erica and Kong Man Wai and bowed out of the medal race.

Hong Kong eventually finished second.

RP’s Jylyn Nicanor, Geo Lourdes Teves and Clichelleyn del Rosario trounced Iran’s Shima Miraei, Parimah Barzagar Rahatloo and Fatemeh Taadolkah, 45-37, but were stopped by Kazakhstan Pochekutova, Zhivitsa and Serikbayeva, 14-45, in their quarterfinal showdown.

The Kazakhs went on to win the gold in the division of the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and organized by the Fencing Confederation of Asia and the Philippine Fencing Association.