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Filipina fencer Sam Catantan. Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.

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Filipina fencer Sam Catantan

Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171394714543020191112-ph-fencing-team-jc-8212 (1).jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina fencer Sam Catantan. <em>Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – National fencer Sam Catantan expressed her readiness and excitement as she gears up for the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the United Arab Emirates from April 27 to 28.</p><p>This will serve as the last qualifiers for the Olympics, where winners will be awarded spots for the Paris Games.</p><p>But behind Catantan&#x27;s enthusiasm was a wearying journey to full recovery after hurting her right knee in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. She wasn&#x27;t able to defend her gold and only settled for silver in said regional meet.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/13/23/sea-games-fencing-star-catantan-suffers-torn-acl"><strong>READ: SEA Games: Fencing star Catantan suffers torn ACL</strong></a></div><p>&quot;I&#x27;m very, very excited po for the upcoming tournament. Siyempre po this season was tough for me. I wasn&#x27;t able po to join every international tournament. And I pretty much missed the whole qualifying [tournament] for Olympics,&quot; Catantan told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m very grateful to represent the Philippines again,&quot; she went on.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/10/pinay-fencer-catantan-makes-it-to-ncaa-championships-1520"><strong>READ: Pinay fencer Catantan makes it to NCAA championship</strong></a></div><p>Catantan, a 22-year-old foilist and a collegiate champion in the UAAP, only started fencing again in February as she recovered from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).</p><p>&quot;I think I&#x27;m pretty much ready po. I started fencing only around February, like last week of Feb. So I only started fencing like only two months before the tournament but I worked really hard to get to this point.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines&#x27; fencing bet was also quick to give credit to her coaches at the Pennsylvania State University in the United States, where she also currently studies.</p><p>&quot;And even the coaches here in Penn State, they&#x27;ve been helping a lot to fence competitively again and also I joined like a lot of tournaments before going to qualifying in Dubai.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/07/21/fencing-former-ue-star-sam-catantan-shines-in-debut-for-penn-state"><strong>READ: Fencing: Former UE star Sam Catantan shines in debut for Penn State</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/10/pinay-fencer-catantan-makes-it-to-ncaa-championships-1520"><strong>READ: Pinay fencer Catantan makes it to NCAA championship</strong></a></div><p>Catantan recently advanced to the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship and finished 10th out of the best 24 fencers in the US.</p><p>The product of University of the East also shared the progress in her recovery.</p><p>&quot;Since po nung dumating ako dito, I started doing my rehab, my physical therapy. So I did my surgery po [nung] June, and then I came back here around August. And then ever since I was doing my rehab and strength conditioning.&quot;</p><p>Catantan said she still trained in fencing without the use of her knees.</p><p>&quot;At the same time, I was doing fencing while sitting down. So nagwa-one-on-one lesson po ako with my coaches just to maintain po &#x27;yung strength ng kamay ko and hand works. So ever since my injury... kahit &#x27;di po ako makapag-fencing I was still trying to do other things that I can do to gain my strength back.&quot;</p><p>Catantan stressed that she won&#x27;t stop fencing until she reaches the Olympics.</p><p>&quot;Actually since after surgery po, I feel that I love fencing more. I also feel that I just started fencing. So every time I train and I go to tournaments, I&#x27;m very excited and for me po as of now, like less stressful siya for me, because I just got back from the injury so I have no expectations every time I come to the strip but at the same time I always give my best and it&#x27;s more just enjoyable for me, which I think helps me a lot,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;I won&#x27;t stop until of course I make it to Olympics.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/4/maxine-esteban-s-change-of-nationality-affected-ph-fencing-team-says-pfa-139"><strong>READ: Maxine Esteban’s change of nationality affected PH fencing team, says PFA</strong></a></div><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 9px;line-height:21px;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">The Philippines&#x27; top-ranked fencer almost reached the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after placing third in the last qualifiers but ultimately missed it after only one athlete qualified for the Games that time.</p>

Fencing star Sam Catantan targets Olympic berth in UAE qualifier

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Fencing star Sam Catantan targets Olympic berth in UAE qualifier

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 24, 2024 08:00 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

fencing

Samantha Catantan

Sam Catantan

Maxine Esteban

Paris Games

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Paris Olympics

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