Contributed by Ryan Quek

Clementi Sports Hall, Saturday, April 9, 2011 — The National Fencing Trials 2011 saw a strong turnout, with local fencers battling for coveted national ranking points. Their common goal — to increase their selections chances to make the SEA Games team, which will compete at Indonesia in November 2011.

In the Men’s epee, Wang Zhihua stunned National number one Lim Weiwen in the semi-finals and followed that up with a gritty 15-10 win over Samson Lee in the final. Zhihua had to overcome severe cramps in the final to secure the win.

“The long day of competition eventually caught up with me but I am very pleased to have pulled through. This win will give me a big boost to train and compete hard, in order to make the team for SEA Games,” said Zhihua.

In the men’s sabre category, Clive Leu, a 17-year-old student from Meridian Junior College, beat fellow national teammate Ernest Chua 15-13 in a closely fought final.

Also winning in a close margin was Cheryl Lim, 18, who beat her national teammate Ann Karin Melbye 15-13 in the women’s epee category.

“To be able to win the National Trials is a big achievement for me as Ann has been in dominant form in the past six months,” said Cheryl.

In the men’s foil category, 2010 South-East Asian Fencing Federation Championship Junior gold medallist Tan Yuan Zi displayed commanding form in the final against Justin Ong. Yuan Zi beat the Youth Olympic Games fencer 15-8.

Experience proved useful in the women’s sabre event, where Asian Games 2010 team representative Lewina Lee beat Yeo Mei Li, currently a student at Meridian Junior College, 15-9.

In the women’s foil event, sisters Cheryl and Liane Wong put family ties aside as they battled out in the finals, with the older sibling Cheryl winning narrowly, 15-13.

Fencing Singapore’s Treasurer Lin Qinghui said: “The strong performances of our national fencers augurs well for their preparations for the SEA Games in November. We were also delighted to see our younger fencers step up and deliver impressive results against more senior opponents.”

The National Trials is an event organised by Fencing Singapore for Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents only.

Currently, there are 1040 active participants in the fencing community and the highest achievement for Fencing Singapore was a gold medal won in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games and a 5th placing in the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Fencing Singapore hopes to achieve five gold medals during the 2011 SEA Games.

RESULTS FOR 2011 NATIONAL TRIALS I
Men’s Epee Individual
Gold WANG Zhihua
Silver LEE Samson
Bronze LIM Weihao
Bronze LIM Weiwen

Men’s Sabre Individual
Gold — LEU Clive Yi Yang
Silver — Chua Ernest Wee Kun
Bronze — YEO Yilei
Bronze — SUTARI Muhammad Nazri Bin

Women’s Foil Individual
Gold — WONG Cheryl Ye Han
Silver — WONG Liane Ye Ying
Bronze — NG Ruth Yi Lin
Bronze — LEE Thalia Ping

Men’s Individual Foil
Gold — TAN Yuan Zi
Silver — ONG Justin Xian Shi
Bronze — LIM Joshua Ian
Bronze — ZHANG Zhenggang

Women’s Individual Epee
Gold — LIM Cheryl
Silver — MELBYE Ann Karin
Bronze — CHONG Celine
Bronze — LIM Victoria

Women’s Individual Sabre
Gold — LEE Lewina Yi Chen
Silver — YEO Mei Li
Bronze — TEO Charlotte Li Ling
Bronze — YAM Felicia Hui Tse