spot_img
27.7 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Italy training PH fencers’ last stop before SEAG

- Advertisement -

A 10-day trip to Como, Italy, will help prepare members of the Philippine national fencing team in its coming campaign in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Samantha Catantan

National coach Rolando Canlas said this as Team Philippines wrapped up its bubble training camp in Ormoc City, Leyte.

Members of the 16-man national squad will be in Manila by Sunday and will travel to Italy on April 28 for a series of sparring sessions around the lakeside city in northern Italy.

The trip is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Fencing Association president and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.

The Italy sortie was also made possible to national team member Maxine Esteban and her Italian coach Andrea Magro.
Esteban has been training there for the last two years in her effort to earn a seat in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

- Advertisement -

“Makapag-sparring man lang kami. Dito kasi sa Asia, sarado pa dahil sa COVID restrictions. Wala kaming mapuntahan,” said Canlas, in a radio interview.

Canlas explained that their sessions will be short and they will be heading for Hanoi by May 8.

Reigning SEA Games champion Jylyn Nicanor and NCAA All-American Samantha Catantan are joining the trip.

Nicanor is seeking to defend her women’s individual sabre gold medal, along with the women’s epee team of Hanniel Abella, Mickyle Bustos, Anna Estimada and Harlene Raguin.

The Philippines placed third back in 2019 with its 2-2-7 gold-silver bronze performance.

Nicanor is in the women’s team with Nicole Allaine Cortey, Queen Dalmacio, and Kimberly Camahalan.

Cortey is competing in the individual sabre competitions.

Catantan, meanwhile, seeks to improve on her bronze medal finishes in 2017 and 2019 in the women’s individual foil.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles