Cheng (right) training with Koh during one of the sessions at Blade Kuala Lumpur Fencing Club. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Five foilists and epeeists from the Blade Kuala Lumpur Fencing Club wrapped up the year 2024 in style, clinching a haul of medals at several local and international tournaments.
Leading the way was senior foilist Tristan Cheng who won the gold medal at the 13th Malaysia Open Fencing Championship 2024 in September.
In December, at the South-East Asian Fencing Federation (SEAFF) Championship 2024, Cheng went on to win a silver medal, following a narrow match with Perez Nathaniel from the Philippines before going down 15-13.
“I was leading at first but after several mistakes, Perez managed to catch up and tied at 12-12.
“Throughout the match, I was playing defensive and thought of switching it up to offence during the tie.
“But Perez seemed to be ready for it and he performed well before securing the win,” said the 25-year-old.
Cheng believes he has done well in both tournaments, especially the Malaysia Open Fencing Championship.
Cheng says he will train more this year.
“I was feeling pumped up to face my fellow teammate Kaerlan Vinod Kamalanathan and won 15-4,” he said.
Juggling a profession as a business consultant, Cheng shows no sign of slowing down as he continues to train rigorously.
“Prior to the SEAFF championship, I was busy with work but moving ahead I will train harder and hopefully get selected for the SEA Games 2025,” said the SEA Games 2021 silver medallist.
Currently, Cheng is ranked first in the Men’s Foil – Senior category.
Meanwhile, in the same SEAFF championship, senior foilist Goh Wen Hao settled for a bronze medal after losing to Cheng 15-10 in the semi-finals.
“I was feeling exhausted at the start as I was down with a sore throat and flu,” said Goh.
Goh won bronze in the SEAFF Championship Senior Men’s Foil category.
“It affected my performance but I pushed through the competition.
“I actually hoped to face Cheng in the finals but luck was not on our side in the draw,” he said.
Currently at 7th in the senior foilist ranking, Goh will be going to a training camp hosted by Blade Fencing co-founder Nontapat Panchan, who also currently coaches the Thailand National Fencing team.
Goh was crowned Silver in the Men’s Foil Individual and Team event in the Sukan Malaysia XXI Sarawak (Sukma 2024).
He also won a gold medal in the first and third Sunway Malls Fencing Grand Prix, and a silver medal in the second, earning him the title of overall champion of the grand prix.
Meanwhile, in the SEAFF Championship Senior Women Epee event, Yap Jing Xuan managed to secure a bronze medal after going down to Filipino fencer Harrison Ashley-Mae Michelle 15-8 in the semi- finals bout.
“My mistake was trying to compete with her in speed as she moves faster and with more tricks up her sleeve.
“But overall, it was not an easy match and I am happy with my performance,” said Yap.
Yap won a bronze medal in the SEAFF Senior Women’s Epee event.
Other foilists who did well in the international competition include cadet foilists Travis Lim, 12, who secured a 9th placing at the Cercle des Escrimeurs Parisiens in the Under-12 foil individual category. Uzair Zafran Badroel Rizwan, 16, managed 24th ranking in the Under-17 European Cadet Circuit fencing championship.
Senior foilist Jesaiah Lyshant Rabindranath, 20, meanwhile, will have to take a break from fencing after suffering a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during the Malaysia Open Fencing Championship.
Head coach Timothy Koh said all the foilists would be focusing on upcoming tournaments.
Koh says the trainees have done well in events held in 2024.
“Overall, the trainees have performed well in various tournaments.
“We hope that they can up their game during the national championship that is scheduled to be held this month.
“Hopefully, they can be selected for the SEA Games and represent the country,” he said.
