INJURED fencing star Samantha Catantan will be out of action for the next seven months.
Philippine Fencing Association president Richard Gomez said this after Cantantan consulted with sports medicine specialist Dr. Raul Canlas on her condition.
Gomez said Catantan will be ready for action by January next year, in time for the Asia and Oceania zonal qualifers from April 15 to 30.
“Sidelined na siya. Nakausap na niya si Dr. Canlas. Wala na ang swelling,” said Gomez.
“January to March next year will be window (to prepare and qualify). Tingnan natin kung gaano kalakas ang spirit niya,” added Gomez.
Catantan suffered a knee injury, which was eventually diagnosed as an ACL tear Friday, while fighting to reach the finals in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games fencing tournament in Phnom Phen, Cambodia.
The team skipper of the Penn State University Nittany Lions playing in Division 1 of the US NCAA, never got to play a finals rematch with nemesis Maxine Wong of Singapore, who eventually won the gold medal.
The country’s top Filipina fencer conceded on the advice of her coach and medical personnel to not continue with her duel with Wong, after getting hurt during her clash with Kemei Chung of Singapore in the semifinals.
She settled for the silver.
Catantan will miss the Asian Fencing Championship in Wuxi, China this June, and the World Championships in Milan, Italy this July.