11-4-2024 (MANILA) For more than three decades, Philippine fencing has awaited representation at the Olympic Games.
Now, Noelito Jose and the national fencing squad are poised to end this prolonged absence as they prepare for the Asia-Oceania Zonal Qualifying Tournament in Dubai, scheduled from April 27 to 28. Their sights are set on securing coveted spots at the Paris Olympics.
With Jose competing in men’s epee, joined by Samantha Catantan (women’s foil), Nathaniel Perez (men’s foil), and Hanniel Abella (women’s epee), the team aims to clinch the sole Olympic berth available in their respective categories.
Jose expressed optimism, stating, “It will not be easy, but it is not impossible. We’ve prepared well for this competition.”
These athletes have dedicated themselves to training, aspiring to emulate the success of Walter Torres, the last Filipino fencer to grace the Olympics stage in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
While former national standout Maxine Esteban secured her Paris ticket, now representing Ivory Coast, Jose and Abella currently train in South Korea, while Catantan hones her skills in the United States following her participation in the NCAA Fencing Championships, where she ranked 10th for Penn State University. Perez recently competed in a Grand Prix event in the United States as well.
As the team fine-tunes their skills in preparation for the Olympics, Jose emphasizes the importance of mindset. “It is not just about what you can do physically. Your attitude during the competition will create a huge impact,” he stressed.
For Jose, Olympic qualification remains the pinnacle achievement he seeks, having already attained success in the Southeast Asian Games with bronze in 2019 and silver medals in 2021 and 2023. He harbours dreams of Paris, seeing it as the culmination of his fencing journey.
“I need to achieve that because you train to become better and to achieve your goals. That is my next goal: to make the Olympics,” Jose affirmed, driven by his desire to leave a lasting mark on Philippine fencing before retiring.
