SINGAPORE: Juliet Heng registered Singapore’s best-ever finish at any edition of the Asian Fencing Championships on Wednesday (Jun 18) after she clinched a silver in the women’s sabre event in Bali, Indonesia.
While world number 93 Heng fell 7-15 to Japan’s world number two and defending champion Misaki Emura in the final, she had been on a remarkable run to book her spot there.
After the opening pool round, the 20-year-old saw off compatriot Jermaine Tan and then Kazakhstan’s Tatyana Prikhodko, before stunning Japan’s world number 26 Seri Ozaki 15-8.
Heng then edged out Uzbekistan’s world number 18 Zaynab Dayibekova 15-14 in the quarter finals and became the first Singaporean fencer to make the finals of an Asian Championships event by beating South Korea’s world ranked 20 Kim Jeongmi in the semi-final.
Speaking to CNA not long after the final, the Singapore Sports School student said she was still “in shock”.
“I still haven’t processed that I made it this far,” she said. “It’s just an honour and I’m just grateful for the effort that everyone has poured into me. I’m glad I didn’t let them down.”
Heng paid tribute to her coach, Kim Seungjun, the rest of the Singapore team and her supporters back home.
“This medal is not just a one person effort,” she added. “(It was) a joint effort and it’s a contribution from everyone.”
Heng, who represented Singapore at the Hangzhou Asian Games two years ago, is also the defending SEA Games women’s sabre champion.
However, she revealed that she had been struggling in recent times and felt like she had missed “a lot of opportunities and chances”. And so Heng’s goal coming into the tournament was simply to do her best.
“Having this is a big motivation and also encouragement for the whole team. I’m really like a ‘nobody’ in the team and I was able to (do this),” she said.
“I want to show people that we can do it, and also encourage my schoolmates … that we can get medals as long as we work hard and believe.”
Prior to Heng’s silver, Singapore’s best showing had come courtesy of two-time Olympian Amita Berthier, who picked up a women’s foil bronze at the 2023 edition of the event in Wuxi, China.
Singapore had previously also clinched joint bronze in the women’s foil team event at the 2022 edition courtesy of Berthier, Maxine Wong, Denyse Chan and Cheung Kemei.
“Today Juliet was fearless on the strip even against more experienced opponents and gave everything she had. She is young, as with many on our team, and we believe that they have so much to give in the years to come,” Fencing Singapore vice president (pathways) Ruth Ng told CNA.
“We have very determined and committed fencers, coaches and ecosystem who have been pushing the boundaries of our sport year on year. Every time our fencers reach a new level, they bring everyone else along.”
