Fencing: Singapore women’s foil team fall to China in Asian Games quarters

HANGZHOU, China: There would be no medal for the Singapore women's foil team at the Asian Games this time round, but there were positives to take away from their quarter-final defeat at the hands of a familiar opponent on Thursday (Sep 28).

At the Hangzhou Dianzhi University gymnasium, Amita Berthier, Maxine Wong, Tay Yu Ling and Cheung Kemei put up a spirited display but ultimately lost 37-45 to China’s Chen Qingyuan, Wang Yingying, individual foil gold medallist Huang Qianqian and Wang Yuting.

Five years ago, the Singaporeans were beaten 14-45 by the Chinese in the semi-finals of the 2018 Asian Games, but secured a joint-bronze medal for their efforts as there was no playoff for third and fourth place.

"If you had asked China five years ago if they got Singapore in the top eight if it would be a hard match, they would probably say no," said Berthier, who along with Wong were part of the quartet at the 2018 Jakarta Games.

"We came close, we frightened them a little bit. I'm proud of our progress so far and you could see a big difference from our team five years ago and our team now."

Speaking to reporters, Wong said she would rate the team's performance an eight out of 10.

"I'm really proud of how we performed overall. In the end, the score was actually quite close, I would say, for a team match," she said.

"That definitely shows that we have improved together as a team, strategy-wise, skill-wise, and also we have gained a lot more experience after taking part in so many World Cups together."

Singapore had hoped to bring home at least two fencing medals at this Games, doubling their previous best of one bronze at the 2014 and 2018 editions each.

However it has been a tough outing so far for the fencers who remain without a