Singapore fencer Amita Berthier qualifies for Paris Olympics

SINGAPORE: National fencer Amita Berthier will make it two consecutive Olympic appearances after she booked her place at the upcoming Paris Games.

The 23-year-old secured her spot after finishing joint 20th in the women's foil event at the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Grand Prix in Washington on Sunday (Mar 17).

Based on the current qualification process, fencers from the world's top four teams qualify directly for the Olympics. Fencers from the highest-ranking remaining team in each of FIE's four zones – Europe, Asia-Oceania, America and Africa – also qualify.

Thereafter, the top individual fencers of the four zones who have not made the cut through the team category qualify for the Games. Berthier, who is ranked 28th in the world, qualified under this category.

In 2021, Berthier clinched her spot by winning a zonal qualifier, which is where the final spots are won.

Berthier, a three-time SEA Games gold medalist, was eliminated in the round of 32 at the Tokyo Games.

She was one of Singapore's flag bearers at last year's Asian Games where she narrowly missed out on a medal.