Philippine fencing team's Juliana Gomez during the ceremonial send-off for Asian Games athletes. Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News
The Philippine women’s fencing team bowed out of the 20th Asian Games after falling to Vietnam, 29–45, in the women’s team épée event on Friday at the Aichi Sky Expo Hall.
Despite not getting the result they wanted, Juliana Gomez kept her head high, noting that the team showed heart and gave its all.
“Ang pinakamalaking realization na nakuha ko personally, is that kaya talaga namin,” she said.
“Kahit na mas experienced ‘yung ibang bansa na nandito sa Asian Games, kaya namin makipagsabayan,” she added. “Kasi kapag naglalaro kami sa piste, grabe ‘yung fighting spirit naming lahat. Talagang may puso, andoon talaga ‘yung talent.”
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Vietnam established an early lead in the opening relay, with Phuong Kim Nguyen taking a 5–3 advantage over Gomez. The Vietnamese side continued to build on its lead in the succeeding relays, going up 10–5 after Thi Thuy Trinh Tran faced Sam Catantan.
The Vietnamese maintained control in the next relay as Thi Kieu Oanh faced Alexa Larrazabal, extending its lead to 15–10. The Vietnamese then widened the gap to 25–16 after five relays and eventually reached the 40-point mark with a 40–27 lead after the eighth relay.
Thi Thuy Trinh Tran then sealed the victory in the final relay, finishing the match at 45–29 against Gomez.
With the defeat, the Philippine women’s fencing team officially ends its bid in the 20th Asian Games, bringing its campaign to a close after a hard-fought team event against Vietnam.
With the women’s campaign now over, the Philippines will turn its attention to the men’s events, where the team still has a chance to end its Asian Games fencing campaign on a high note. The men’s sabre competition is set for Saturday, followed by the men’s épée event on Sunday.