Catantan, Manuel on point in Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines — Antonio Manuel and Sophia Catantan delivered on the final day of action and earned gold medals for Team Philippines in the recent Hefeng National Junior Fencing Championships in New Taipei City in Taiwan.

The two Filipinos, part of more than 40 fencers representing Canlas Fencing, won in dramatic fashion as the club finished the two-day meet with a haul of two gold medals, a silver and eight bronze medals.

After suffering a controversial 13-15 setback to Lv Kechen of Taiwan in the semifinals of the Under-15 women’s individual foil, the 13-year-old Catantan bounced back with a masterful 15-4 victory over Taiwan’s Liu Zhiyu in the finals of the U-17 category.

Manuel, 14, an incoming Grade 10 student of Paref Northfield, rebounded from a silver medal finish in U-17 as he bagged gold in U-15 with a 15-11 win against Yang Bingyan of Taiwan.

Bronze winners include foilists Victoria Ebdane, Jodie Tan and Yuna Canlas, Medivh Boy, Nicol Canlas in U-13 and the Villacin sisters Alyssa and Akirra.

There were improved performances, including that of Willa Galvez, 11, who is backed by Converge, Nickel Asia Corp., San Miguel Corp., Rain or Shine and NLEX.