UNIVERSITY of the East high school fencers Nina Canlas and James Lim, along with rookie Willa Liana Galvez, dominated their respective categories in the recent 2nd Malaysia Fencing Federation Minime International Fencing Championship at the Tan Sri Hamzah Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Canlas, a Grade 9 student at UE-Manila, snared two gold medals after ruling the Under-14 and Under-17 women’s epee individual during the meet held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5 at the Tan Sri Hamzah Arena.
In her first finals’ clash, Canlas beat Sara Sofea Idongesit of Malaysia’s Five Star Fencing Club, 15-11, in the finals of U-14. After that, Canlas toppled Ching Yang of Taipei, 15-10, in the U-17 finals.
Nina, the eldest of three Canlas siblings of UE head coach and former national team chief mentor Rolando “Amat” Canlas Jr., took home her third gold when she teamed up with UE rookie Juliana Jimenez, Justa Sandoval and Zoey Velasco of Canlas Fencing in a 45-41 win over Malaysia’s Bekking Fencing in the U-17 team women’s epee.
Lim, pulled off a close 15-13 win over Saif Nordin of Malaysia’s Touche Fencing Club in the U-14 men’s foil finals.
A 10th grader at UE, Lim seeks defend the gold in the junior’s category in the coming UAAP Season 86 Fencing Championship this March 2024.
“It’s a good campaign for the UE fencers. Their participation here in KL is part of training in time for the UAAP,” said Canlas.
Galvez claimed her first gold medal win in an international competition when she reeled in the U-14 gold medal in women’s foil by besting Singapore’s Lam Xin Ying of Absolute Fencing, 15-9.
A Grade 7 student athlete from UE, the 12-year-old Galvez finished the six-day meet with the most medals with seven, as she helped the U-12 team with CF’s Yuna Canlas, Hagia del Castillo and Lily Juico.
Galvez’s Team CF turned back the Absolute Fencing Singapore for the crown.
The trio of Galvez, Canlas and Del Castillo then teamed up with Riese Santiago in winning the gold in the U-17 against Malaysia’s Persatuan Lawan.
Galvez also bagged two silvers after placing second in women’s individual epee behind Idongesit in the U-12 division, and U-12 sabre team event with Nicol Canlas, Shy Catantan and Wynter Ang.
A pair of bronze medals also went to Galvez in U-12 individual foil and U-12 mixed team epee.
The other top Filipino performers in the tournament were Yuri Canlas (U-8 women’s foil), Elijah Timbol (U-10 men’s foil), Yuna Canlas (U-12 women’s foil), Lucas Palafox (U-12 men’s foil), Gael Villaluna (U-12 men’s epee) and Oscar del Castillo (U-14 men’s epee) all from CF, and Leevi Chan of Republic Fencing (U-8 men’s foil).
Matteo Canlas joined hands with cousin Yuri Canlas and Flame Go in winning the mixed epee U-10 category, while Villaluna connived with Thade Go, Lance Dy and Jonathan Pascual in ruling the U-12 men’s team epee.