Contributed by Ryan Quek

Clementi Sports Hall, Tuesday, April 12, 2011 — Led by key national junior fencers over two days of competition at the National Inter-School Fencing Championships, Meridian Junior College snatched the overall A Division boys’ title from Raffles Institution by 26 points.

In the girls’ category, Raffles Institution narrowly beat Hwa Chong Institution by a mere 10 points to emerge as overall champions.

National junior number one Justin Ong stood head and shoulders above the field of Men’s Foil fencers to emerge champion. After breezing through the preliminary rounds, he eventually beat Benedict Lee from Meridian JC 15-6 in the final.

“It is a good feeling to win the A division men’s foil title and i hope to achieve more for my new school,” said Justin, a year one Raffles Institution student.

Asked if he felt any pressure to win the men’s foil title, he remarked: “The pressure was self driven as I was determined from the start to perform well and i am very glad i managed to do it.”

In the Women’s Epee event, Rania Rahadja secured the solitary gold for Hwa Chong Institution in this year’s competition. A year two student, Rania used her reach and experience to good effect and defeated club mate Celine Chong in the final, 15-8.

Rania, who also secured a bronze in Monday’s competition in the Women’s Foil category, was delighted with her performance today.

She said: “It’s always a great feeling to win a medal but to do it for the school you represent is very special.”

The last event of the day saw Charlotte Teo from Raffles Institution defeat National teammate Yeo Mei Li from Meridian JC in an exciting final. Cheered on by her teammates, Charlotte displayed composure at critical moments to overcome Mei Li 15-12.

Charlotte said: ”It really depends on who is fencing better on a given day because both of us understand each other’s game plan so well.

“I have definitely benefited from all the overseas competitions i have competed at lately, and the experience helped me stay composed and gave me the confidence to change my strategy midway through the final.”

This is the sixth year Fencing Singapore is organising an inter-school fencing event and the first year it is recognised by the Co-Curricular Activities Branch (CCAB) as an official Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) in schools.

DAY 2 RESULTS
Men’s Epee Individual
1st TEO Federick (ACJC)
2nd LIM Weihao (CJC)
3rd KOH Wei Yang (MJC)
4th SAW Graeme Eu Jin (HCS)

Men’s Sabre Individual
1st LEU Clive Yi Yang (MJC)
2nd CHEE Douglas Wei Chian (RI)
3rd LIM Daniel Zheng Yi (MJC)
4th KWOK Kolin Chee Wai (CJC)

Women’s Foil Individual
1st WONG Liane Ye Ying (CJC)
2nd YEO Lynn (ACJC)
3rd RAHARDJA Rania Herlina (HCI)
4th WONG Jephine Qiao YI (CJC)

Men’s Foil Individual
1st ONG Justin Xian Shi (RI)
2nd LEE Benedict Jing Kang (MJC)
3rd LI Yong Han (RI)
4th LIM Daniel Zheng Yi (MJC)

Women Epee Individual
1st RAHARDJA Rania Herlina (HCI)
2nd CHONG Celine Rui Yun (RI)
3rd TAN Ginny Pei Ling (ACJC)
4th CHIAH Cailyn Ka Men (RI)

Women Sabre Individual
1st TEO Charlotte Li Ling (RI)
2nd YEO Mei Li (MJC)
3rd LEE Shu Ren (HCI)
4th NG Gwendolyn Gek Ying (CJC)

Overall Champions – Men
1st MJC — 166
2nd RI — 140
3rd CJC — 96
4th HCI — 76

Overall Champions – Women
1st RI — 148
2nd HCI — 138
3rd CJC — 134
4th MJC — 96