Youth Olympic Fencing: Rania Rahardja and Justin Lim bow out at round of 16 on final day

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Ng Cheng Cong/Red Sports

International Convention Centre, Tuesday, August 12, 2010 — Singapore garnered two impressive quarter-final finishes in the past two days of the Youth Olympic Games fencing competition, and all eyes were on the final two local fencers to see if they would repeat the feat.

However, Singapore’s Justin Ong and Rania Herlina Rahardja both lost 10-15 in the round of 16 to their higher-ranked opponents.

In the morning, Justin came into the Men’s Individual Foil competition as the last seed after managing one victory in his pool. In the round of 16, he lost 10-15 to Russia’s Kirill Lichagin.

“Although my teammates finished in the last eight, I didn’t feel any pressure on me,” said Justin. “I am not disappointed at all and personally, I went beyond expectations. I can really feel myself improve.”

Even though he was seeded the last of 13 fencers, he still managed to do Singapore proud in the pool round, beating Cuba’s Prades Rosable 5-2 while losing narrowly to Hong Kong’s eighth seed Nicholas Edward Choi 4-5.

When asked about his performance in his pool, he felt that he could have done better against a few opponents, but still felt good about it.

His round of 16 opponent came into the tournament as the third seed, but after two defeats in the pool, he fell to fifth. Lichagin sprinted to a 5-0 lead before Justin got his first point. However, the quality of the Russian was too much for Justin and the latter succumbed 10-15.

“This experience has given me very good exposure,” commented Justin. “Men’s foil is generally more difficult as some of the powerhouses are here. So I am facing more highly-ranked opponents and I don’t have any regrets. I’m feeling quite good after the tournament.”

“There are no more major tournaments for me. I’ll have to study for my O levels,” added Justin.

Likewise, Rania also one won match in her pool of the Women’s Individual Epee competition. She then faced fifth seed Korean Lee Hye Won in the round of 16 where she lost 10-15.

Rania was seeded 12th coming into the competition and it looked like she would go into the round of 16 as the last seed, having lost her first five matches.

However, she came back strongly to beat Palestine’s Damyan Jaqman 5-2 in her last pool match.

In the round of 16 against Lee, Rania fell behind very quickly. She was unable to keep up with her opponent and Lee wrapped up the match 15-10.

“The important thing is she did her best and didn’t give up,” said fellow fencer Lim Wei Hao.

“I don’t think she did too badly,” said Justin about his teammate. “She was up against the second seed. Overall, team Singapore was up to expectations. We were aiming for just one person in the last eight and two made it, so it was above expectations.”

“We also proved that we are no pushovers despite qualifying via virtue of being the host country, and we can still put up a good fight. We still have something to offer as team Singapore!” added Justin.