Fencing: Singapore’s Kiria Tikanah exits after loss to world No. 3 opponent at Paris Olympics

PARIS: There was disappointment in defeat but also dignity in a battling performance which saw Singapore epee fencer Kiria Tikanah take on one of the world's best on Saturday (Jul 27) at the Olympic Games.

The world number 75 went down 10-15 to Italy’s world number 3 Alberta Santuccio in the table of 32, resulting in her exit from the Paris Olympics.

Earlier in the day, world number 75 Kiria caused a shock, edging out Peru’s Maria Calderon 15-14 at the Grand Palais. Calderon is ranked 29 places ahead of the Singaporean in the world rankings.

Beating Santuccio, however, proved to be a much tougher task. The Italian was a bronze medalist in the team epee event at the last Olympics, and took individual and team silver at the World Championships last year.

Yet, Kiria looked unfazed as she held her own early on. But Santuccio would eventually pull away to clinch the victory, with Kiria bowing out of the competition.

"I'm a bit disappointed with the results. But looking back at my fencing, I think it's something that I'm satisfied with," she told reporters. 

This is Kiria’s second Games appearance after making her debut at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. She was then eliminated in the table of 32.

But much has changed since then for the fencer.

"I'm a bit more mature now in terms of how I think as well as strategies that I use," she said. "I think three years makes ... a lot of difference."

At the same time, it has been a journey of ups and downs for the 24-year-old, who shared how expectations weighed heavy after the Tokyo Games. And she would question herself as to whether she deserved to have the title of Olympian.

"It kind of snowballs and accumulates over the competitions. But I think once I let go of it, I got a bit better,"