Young fencers turn focus to bigger events

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The Philippine junior fencing team is turning its attention to next year’s Asian and world championships after collecting individual medals and valuable ranking points at the 2026 Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Eight Filipino fencers from different clubs reached the podium, led by 16-year-old Oscar Del Castillo, who won gold in the men’s cadet epee and silver in the junior division.

Willa Galvez, 15, added a bronze in junior women’s foil, while Hagia del Castillo took silver in cadet women’s foil. Yuna Canlas, Victoria Ebdane, Papina Torre, Jethro Chan and Don Reyzel Geronimo also earned bronze medals in their respective events.

The results gave the young fencers ranking points that will count toward their overall standings, along with points earned from international competitions such as the Asian Cadet Cup and Philippine Fencing Association junior and cadet tournaments.

“It’s not just the medals. Equally important are the points we’ll get from the SEAFF because they will be added to our overall ranking points,” Del Castillo said recently at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The ranking race resumes Aug. 29 and 30 with the third and final leg of the PFA Junior and Cadet tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“It’s going to be an exciting third leg because it’s the final leg, and the points every fencer will get are very crucial,” Galvez said.

Ebdane, 16, said competing internationally is also important for the experience gained against foreign opponents.

“It’s important as an athlete to compete in as many international competitions as we can,” Ebdane said. “Playing against players from other countries will push me to be better, both locally and internationally.”

In previous years, the top four fencers in the cadet and junior rankings represented the Philippines in the Asian and world championships.