Fencer Samantha Catantan pulled off a dramatic victory in the Asia Oceania Qualification in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates to clinch a berth to the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, April 27.
The 22-year-old Penn State University standout threaded through the eye of the needle and squeaked past a taller rival in Sofiya Aktayeva of Kazakhstan, 15-14, to rule the women’s individual foil and become the 12th Filipino to qualify to Paris.Tied at 13-all with 1:40 left in the match, Catantan called for a medical timeout after hurting her knee.
Catantan also became the first Filipino fencer to qualify to the Olympics in 32 years, or since Walter Torres, now commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, who competed at the 1992 Barcelona edition. Catantan finished with a 3-2 record in Pool play, winning over Iranian Zahra Kargar and Bahrain's Sumaya Albuainain with similar 5-0 scores, and India’s Ashitha Stalinra 5-3 and Aktayeva with identical 5-4 scores.Catantan joins fellow Filipino Olympic qualifiers pole vaulter EJ Obiena, rower Joanie Delgaco, boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Febuar Ceniza, and gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi-Jung Ruivivar.
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