NAGOYA, Japan — Tumapos sa quarterfinals ang kampanya ni Olympian Sam Catantan sa 20th Asian Games matapos siyang yumuko kay South Korea’s Park Jihee, 10-15, sa women’s individual foil event nitong Miyerkules sa Aichi Sky Expo.
Bagama’t nabigo, taas-noo pa rin ang 24-anyos na Pinay fencer matapos ang laban.
“I’m really proud with how I fenced today. Up to the end, I did not give up. So I’m very proud of that. Unfortunately, it’s sports, it could go either way,” ani Catantan.
Sa halip na panghinaan ng loob, gagamitin ni Catantan ang karanasan bilang paghahanda sa susunod na Olympic qualifying season.
“One of my main goals for this tournament is to see where I’m at currently and work after to be better and to hopefully get better results,” pahayag niya.
Samantala, kinapos rin sina Christian Jhester Concepcion at Eunice Daniel Villanueva sa men’s individual sabre. Tinalo si Concepcion ni Iran’s Mohammad Fotouhi Firozabad, 15-7, sa round of 16, habang yumuko naman si Villanueva kay Saudi Arabia’s Adel Mukhlid Almutairi, 15-9, sa round of 32.
Hindi rin nakalusot sa women’s individual foil si Janna Catantan, nakababatang kapatid ni Sam, matapos talunin ni Singapore’s Maxine Jie Xin Wong, 15-2, sa round of 32.
Apat pang Pinoy fencers ang sasabak Huwebes—sina Jian Miguel Bautista at Noelito Jose Jr. sa men’s épée, at sina Jylyn Nicanor at Queen Denice Dalmacio sa women’s sabre individual events. (POC Media Pool/HNT)
