Jylyn Nicanor celebrates after she receives the final point for a 15-14 win over Indonesia’s Diah Permatasari in women’s individual sabre finals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. (Waylon Galvez)
By WAYLON GALVEZ
Filipino bet 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 match 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 bleacher seats). Nag-focus na lang sa ako sa laro.”
Permatasari dictated the match early on, grabbing an 8-5 advantage after the first round. Nicanor rallied to tie 9-all in the second period.
Nicanor got the lead at 12-11, but the Indonesian came back and connected two points for 13-12. Nicanor answered with a point to tie the score once more at 13.
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 especialy when she was down.
Jylyn Nicanor with her gold medal. (Waylon Galvez)
Nicanor claimed the last two points – both reviewed by the referee. And when the final point was awarded to her, Nicanor threw her hands up and wept as her teammates and coaches rush toward 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 University of the East.
Prior to that gold medal win, the Philippines had won two silvers courtesy of Hanniel Abella and Christian Concepcion, and three bronze medals from Nathaniel Perez, Noelito Jose Jr. and Samantha Catantan.
The team events in fencing starts Friday and the national team, headed by its coach Rolando Canlas Jr., hopes to win at least three more gold medals.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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