Jylyn Nicanor gave the national fencing team its first gold medal following a thrilling 15-14 victory over Diah Permatasari of Indonesia in the women’s individual sabre event in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Thursday night at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Nicanor’s win ended the drought for the Filipino fencers after two bets failed to claim victories in the gold medal matches during the first two days of action in the individual category.
“Sobrang saya ko. Hindi ko ini-expect ‘to na mananalo ako ng gold. Binigay ko talagang lahat,” the 27-year-old Nicanor, who hugged her mother Emerita and gave to her the gold medal after the awarding ceremony.
“Pressure talaga, kinakabahan nga ako. Lalo nung nakita ko yung malaking Philippine flag na hawak ng mga teammates ko (at the bleachers seats). Nag-focus na lang sa ako sa laro.”
The match was tight before Permatasari grabbed an 8-5 advantage after the first round. Nicanor rallied and tied the score at 9-all in the second period.
Nicanor got the lead at 12-11, but the Indonesian came back and connected two points that gave her back the lead at 13-12. Nicanor answered with a point to tie the score at 13-all.
Permatasari moved a point from winning the match, and the title when she connected on his attempt for a 14-13 advantage. Nicanor, however, proved to have the resolve even when she was down.
Nicanor made the last two points – both reviewed by the referee – and when the final point was awarded to her, she raised her arms and wept as her teammates and coaches ran towards her to celebrate.
Nicanor, who together with the rest of the fencing national team had a rigorous nine-month training under Korean coaches Seungjun Kim and Sangsun Park – a gold medal winner in the 2006 Asian Games, said she just gave everything she got to deliver the final two points.
“Ang iniisip ko nun… kinakabahan na ako. Nakikita ko yung score, pero iniisip ko mag-focus lang ako. Nagawa ko naman. Para to sa pamilya ko, para sa Pilipinas,” said Nicanor, a psychology graduate at the University of the East.
Prior to that gold medal win, the Philippines won two silvers courtesy of Hanniel Abella and Christian Concepcion, and three bronze medals from Nathaniel Perez, Noelito Jose Jr. and Samantha Catantan.
Team events start Friday and the national team, headed by its coach Rolando Canlas Jr., hopes win at least three more gold medals.
