More than 200 fencers from different clubs in the Philippines are expected to participate in 1st Canlas Fencing Inter-Club Challenge set to start on Thursday, May 26 at the SM City Centerpoint in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
This is the first time that Canlas Fencing is staging such a big event with SM as its partner as the giant company sees the potential in the sports.
In last week’s 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, the Philippine Team captured a gold medal courtesy of Samantha Catantan in women’s individual foil, with three silvers and four bronze medals.
Amat Canlas, the national team coach and founder of the Canlas Fencing club, considers it a big opportunity to stage an event for young local fencers since this is where they develop their skills.
“It’s important that we start staging fencing tournaments here in our country. It’s been a while since we at CF organized a tournament. We’re ready and we are excited for this tournament,” Canlas said.
“This is our first in more than two years. As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic kept us all inside our homes. But now that restrictions are easing up, we’re very glad that fencing is back – but we still need to continue to follow the minimum health protocols,” added Canlas.
The event schedule will have all the Under-17 in boys and girls playing on Thursday in all three weapons, foil, sabre and epee, while the Under-23 women’s and men’s in foil and sabre, as well as Under-23 men’s epee will be played on Friday at the Cyberzone area of SM City Centerpoint.
On Saturday, the boys and girls division in Under-10 and Under-12 of foil will take center stage and the Under-23 women’s epee, while on Sunday the team event in the Under-23 men’s and women’s in foil and epee, as well as the Under-12 boy’s and girl’s in foil will be played.
The four-day event is backed by ALX Cargo Logistics Corporation, Hello Glow by Ever Bilena, San Miguel Corporation, Converge, Uno Fuel, Milo, Pocari Sweat and Stanley Philippines.