Manuel, Catantan deliver fencing golds

Canlas Fencing standouts celebrate a successful stint. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Antonio Manuel and Sophia Catantan delivered winning performances on the final day of action as the two earned gold medals for Team Philippines in the 1st Hefeng National Junior Fencing Championships recently in Taiwan.

After suffering a controversial 13-15 setback to Lu Kechen of Taiwan in the semifinals of the Under-15 women’s individual foil, the 13-year-old Catantan bounced back with a masterful 15-4 victory over Taiwan’s Liu Zhiyu in the finals of the U-17 category.

The 14-year-old Manuel, an incoming Grade 10 student of Paref Northfield, also rebounded from a silver medal finish in U-17 as he bagged gold in U-15 with a come-from-behind 15-11 win against Yang Bingyan of Taiwan.

Aside from the medal winners, the tournament also allowed young fencers to gain more experience in international meets, among them Willa Galvez, Hagia del Castillo and Ina Pascual of Republic Fencing in foil; Elise Acuzar, Zoe Atilano, Maiev Boy and Sophia Santiago in sabre; and Sid Peralta in epee.