Contributed by Ryan Quek
Ann Lee (right) in action against Wan Jingyi of China in the Sabre final. Ann eventually went down 12-15 to finish with the silver. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Quek)
Singapore Institute of Management, Friday, August 5, 2011 — The second day of the Fencing Singapore International 2011 saw Singapore’s Sabre fencer Ann Lee storm through the draw to reach the final where she lost to Wan Jingyi from China in a pulsating match.
Ann, a 20-year-old SMU undergraduate. took the lead and looked good for an upset win but the more experienced 26-year-old Chinese fencer eventually triumphed 15-12. Even though slightly disappointed, the sliver medallist drew some positives from her performances throughout the day.
She said: “I felt I approached each match in the state of mind that I have been working on in trainings and that focus really helped me achieve the good performances I had today.”
Li Zhihong and Sun Tingting, also from China, clinched the joint bronze medals.
In the Men’s Foil individual event semi-finals, 21-year-old medical student Tan Yuan Zi from Singapore lost to Ralf Bissdorf, a 2000 Olympic silver medallist. Despite his best efforts, Yuan Zi could not find a way past the German’s accurate attacks and was disappointed he could not make the eventual 15-7 scoreline.
Bissdorf then faced off against Thailand number 1 fencer Nontapat Panchan in the final, with the 30 year old Nontapat eventually outlasting the 40-year-old German 15-12.
Fencing Singapore’s President Nicholas Fang said: ”The strong results from this competition has so far been very encouraging and thus far validates the work done by the committee, coaches and the athletes. This also signals that we are on track to achieve our targets in the Jakarta SEA Games as well as the 2016 Olympic games.”
The Chinese fencers swept the rest of the medals on offer in the Women’s epee individual event. The formidable Xiang Yixuan took home the gold after beating compatriot Wang Huachen 15-11 in the final.
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