Catantan, Jose are fencing's top bets

FILIPINO fencers Samantha Catantan and Noelito Jose present the best opportunities for the Philippines to send athletes in the sport of fencing at the 2024 Paris Olympics in July.The two, together with fellow fencers Nathaniel Perez and Hanniel Abella, will see action in the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament (QOT) on April 27-28 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Barcelona Olympics veteran Walter Torres believes that while the OQT is a tough competition, Catantan and Jose — based on their respective track records — are up to the challenge.

“It’s tougher now to qualify for the Olympics because fencing has gone up, the coaching has improved and technology. But for me, I see Samantha as really having the chance to qualify,” said Torres, now a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

“Her training, exposure at Penn State University is very helpful, and it shows in her performances. We at the PSC supported Sam and Noel — the fact that the PSC helped means to say that we believe they are capable of qualifying,” added Torres.

Catantan and Perez will compete in the foil, while Abella and Jose will represent the country in the epee event. Only the top fencers in each event, including in saber, will earn an Olympic berth.

Catantan nearly made it to the Olympics three years ago in Tokyo after she advanced in the semifinal round at the Asian OQT in Uzbekistan. However, she lost to Yana Alborova, 15-10, in the final four.

Although she is coming back from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery on her left knee, Catantan has shown great progress and, without a doubt, has regained her deadly form.

A solid performance during the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship last month when she finished 10th out of the 24 best fencers in US colleges speaks volume of her readiness in the Asian OQT.

As for Jose, he also has been able to participate and do well in various World Cup and Grand Prix that made him up for the challenge in next week’s meet. The same goes to Perez and Abella, who are spending on their own with help from private sponsors to get a spot for the Olympics.

It was in 1992 when Torres competed in the Barcelona Games via the wild card berth. Prior to that, the only other Filipino fencer who has made it to the Olympics was Percy Alger — a participant in the 1988 Seoul Games in South Korea.

Torres said that while he prepared for two months in Germany that included a stint in the World Championships, he was “overwhelmed” at the Olympics as he faced not just the best in Asia but the world.

“I was in the same pool with China’s No. 1 player, against a tall Italian, I won my bout against Singapore’s Ronald Tan, lost 5-4 to a fencer from the former USSR. If I won that I would’ve made it to the DE (direct eliminations),” he said.

Torres, who retired after the 1995 Southeast Asian Games to finish his dentistry degree at the University of the Philippines in 1996, said that Catantan and the three other fencers will face tough challenges in Fujairah.

“But this Asian OQT is an opportunity to show what Filipinos are made of,” he said.

“We wish them the best of luck. Going there is already an achievement. Their willingness to go is a sign that they are prepared and want to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The PSC is behind our fencers.”