Daily Tribune‘It’s a good campaign for the UE fencers.’
UNIVERSITY of the East fencers Nina Canlas, James Lim and Willa Galvez show their medals after emerging triumphant in the 2nd Malaysia Fencing Federation Minime International Fencing Championship in Kuala Lumpur. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UE FENCING
University of the East high school fencers Nina Canlas and James Lim dominated their respective categories while rookie Willa Galvez made a huge contribution in the 2nd Malaysia Fencing Federation Minime International Fencing Championship from 30 November to 5 December at the Tan Sri Hamzah Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Canlas, a Grade 9 student at UE-Manila, captured two gold medals after ruling the Under-14 and Under-17 women's epee individual, beating Sara Sofea Idongesit of Malaysia's Five Star Fencing Club, 15-11, in the finals of U-14, and Ching Yang of Taipei, 15-10, in the U-17 finals.
Nina, the eldest of three Canlas siblings of UE head coach and former national team chief mentor Rolando "Amat" Canlas Jr., bagged her third gold when she teamed up with UE rookie Juliana Jimenez, Justa Sandoval and Zoey Velasco of Canlas Fencing in a 45-41 win over Malaysia's Bekking Fencing in the U-17 team women's epee.
Lim, on the other hand, came through with a thrilling 15-13 win over Saif Nordin of Malaysia's Touche Fencing Club in the U-14 men's foil finals.
Now in his 10th grade at UE, Lim is aiming to defend the gold in the junior's category in the coming UAAP Season 86 Fencing Championship this March 2024.
"It's a good campaign for the UE fencers. Their participation here in Kuala Lumpur is part of training as preparation continues for the fencers in time for the UAAP," said Canlas, who also got solid outings from Galvez, as well as UE's sabre team of Nicol Canlas and Shy Catantan, and Mika Ragot in epee.
Galvez had her breakthrough win in international competition as she captured the U-14 gold medal in women's foil by besting Singapore's Lam Xin Ying of Absolute Fencing, 15-9.
Now a Grade 7 student at UE, Galvez, 12, finished the six-day meet with the most medals with seven as she helped the U-12 team with CF's 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 U-17 against Malaysia's Persatuan Lawan.
