By MARK REY MONTEJO
Hours after Samantha Catantan’s secured an Olympic berth with a dramatic win, three Filipino bets – Nathaniel Perez, Noelito Jose and Hanniel Abella – fell by the wayside that ended their own Olympic dreams in the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates over the weekend.
Save for Abella who managed to reach the quarters, Jose and Perez suffered heart-breaking defeats to their equally seasoned rivals in their respective events.
After she nourished her Olympic dream with a 15-7 win over Iranian Reihanen Reizaei in Round of 16 of women’s epee, Abella ran into trouble against Singaporean Olympian Kiria Tikanah in the quarters.
She produced some quick and brilliant moves but the top-seeded Tikanah used her experience to her absolute advantage for a 15-8 win.
Tikanah went on to rule the event to secure a return trip to the quadrennial meet this August.
Jose, who was seeded 14th, also lost to a Singaporean rival in No. 3 seeded Jian Tong Sito, 15-13, in men’s epee category.
Competing in men’s foil, Perez absorbed a 15-8 defeat to Australian Joseph Glasson in Round of 16 as well.
Catantan became the first Filipino fencer in 32 years to make to the biggest sporting show on earth with a gutsy 15-14 win over the longer and taller Sofiya Aktayeva of Kazakhstan.
The 22-year-old Catantan will be the country’s 12th representative to the Olympics which will be in the charming French capital.
