Busan Asian Games gold medalist Sergey Shabalin of Kazakhstan and Vietnam Southeast Asian Games gold winners Nontapat Panchan and Siriroj Rathraprasert will be among the favorites in the Sharp Asian Fencing Championships and the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying competition set from April 19 to 26 at the PhilSports Arena.
Twenty countries, including host Philippines, have so far confirmed their participation in the event organized by the Philippine Amateur Fencers Association (PAFA) and International Management Group and sponsored by Sharp Phils.
These are Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Sharp executive Roberto Littaua and Ernesto Rendon have expressed full support to the event.
POC and PAFA president Celso Dayrit knows competition will be tough, but he’s optimistic that a Filipino fencer can make it to the Athens Olympics on August 13-29.
At stake are two berths each in women’s foil and sabre and one each in women’s and men’s epee, men’s foil and men’s sabre.
The Philippines emerged overall champion in the fencing event of the Vietnam SEA Games late last year.
Among the top RP entries in the Sharp Asian tourney are Walbert Mendoza, Veena Tessa Nuestro, Joanna Franquelli, Emerson Segui, Rolando Canlas, Wilfredo Vizcayno, Avelino Victorino and Edmon Velez.,
The event is also supported by Philippine STAR.