Young Willa Galvez strikes gold in Malaysia tourney

Willa Galvez: Most medals —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

University of the East (UE) rookie Willa Galvez bagged the most medals—including her breakthrough gold—among the Red Warriors’ fencers who competed in the 2nd Malaysia Fencing Federation Minime International Fencing Championship recently in Kuala Lumpur.

Galvez captured the U14 gold medal in women’s foil by besting Singapore’s Lam Xin Ying of Absolute Fencing, 15-9. The Grade 7 student finished the six-day meet with seven medals as she helped the U12 team of Yuna Canlas, Hagia del Castillo and Lily Juico win the title against Absolute Fencing Singapore.

The trio of Galvez, Canlas and Del Castillo then teamed up with Riese Santiago in winning the gold in the U17 against Malaysia’s Persatuan Lawan.

The 12-year-old Galvez also went home with two silvers after placing second in women’s individual epee behind Idongesit in the U12 division, and in the U12 sabre team event with Nicol Canlas, Shy Catantan and Wynter Ang. Galvez also had a pair of bronze medals—U12 individual foil and U12 mixed team epee.

Also bringing home golds were UE standouts Nina Canlas and James Lim.

Canlas captured two gold medals after ruling the U14 and U17 women’s epee.

She won a third gold with UE rookie Juliana Jimenez, Justa Sandoval and Zoey Velasco in the U17 women’s epee team event.

Lim, on the other hand, bagged the men’s U14 men’s foil title.