Nicol Canlas emerged as one of the winningest medallists of the recently concluded Allstar Hong Kong (U17) Fencing Championships 2023 in Kawloon Bay.
The 12-year-old Canlas, one of nine high school freshmen in the University of the East fencing team, finished with a four-medal haul to lead the Philippines to six gold medals, eight silvers and 12 bronzes for a second-place finish in their foil events.
In the separate event of the sabre and foil championships, Filipino fencers grabbed 12 golds, 17 silvers and 18 bronzes to carry the Philippines to the top spot with Hong Kong in second (11-9-24).
Overall, the performances earned Filipino fencers a total of 18 gold medals, 25 silvers and 30 bronzes.
A seventh grade student-athlete, Canlas conquered the under-12 girls’ sabre and then earned two silver medals in the under-12 mixed team and in the under-14 girl’s sabre team.
“It’s always a proud moment every time we get a medal. We’re just happy to win medals for our country, for the school and for our respective families,” said Canlas, the daughter of former national coach Rolando Canlas Jr.
In taking the under-12 crown, Canlas turned back Ma. Elise Acuzar, 15-8, for the girls’ sabre gold.
Also winning gold medals were Louis Shoemaker in the boys’ under-17 foil and Allison Sophia Santiago in the girls’ under-17 sabre events.
Teammates Mika Ragot and Willa Galvez all made podium finishes to share the top honors with Canlas.
Ragot, also a Grade 7 student at the Recto-based school and daughter of former UE fencer Alex Ragot, placed second in the under-12 girls’ epee to get a silver medal in the three-day meet.
Galvez, on the other hand, went home with a triple bronze medal haul, when she placed tied for fourth with Canlas Fencing teammate Yuna Canlas in the under-12 girls’ foil division of the tournament organized by the Hong Kong Fencing School.
The young Galvez also powered her CF Team A with Marian Castro, Hagia del Castillo and Lily Juico to a come-from-behind 45-43 win over Singapore’s Z Fencing in the under-14 girls’ foil team.
CF Team A also got a lift from Galvez, as she and teammates Iñigo Divinagracia, Lucas Palafox and Kyle Dy snared another bronze medal with their 45-12 victory over Republic Fencing in the under-12 mixed foil team event.
“It’s always a good experience for us fencers—especially us three who are newcomers for the UE high school fencing team—every time we get to compete abroad, against other fencers from other countries. We’ll surely bring the learning as we continue to prepare for other events like the UAAP,” said Galvez.
Galvez is set to make her debut with UE in the coming season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
