SINGAPORE – A Filipino fencer settled for yet another silver in the 28th Southeast Asian Games here.
Harlene Raguin lost in the gold medal match of the women’s individual epee as Vietnam’s Tran Thi Len mounted a come-from-behind victory, 11-7, at the OCBC Arena on Thursday night.
The Filipina was ahead, 3-0, and 5-1, in the second round but failed to sustain the lead as Tran scored late in the match to cart away with the gold medal.
The 31-year-old Raguin had beaten Tran in the semifinals of the 2007 edition of the meet, but admitted she failed to sustain her form.
“Ganun pa rin naman ang kilos niya. Siguro kinulang lang. Hindi ko naalagaan ‘yung lamang ko. Pati ‘yung mga coaches, sinasabihan ko na mag-relax lang,” said Raguin, a former University of Santo Tomas standout.
It was the second silver medal for fencing after Justine Tinio finisher runner up in the women’s individual foil on Wednesday.
Nathaniel Perez settled for the bronze in the men’s individual foil after a 15-14 loss to Nguyen Minh Quang of Vietnam.
As per tournament rules, an individual wins the bout if he either reaches 15 points or ahead by points after three rounds.
Perez became the first Filipino bronze medalist in this year’s SEA Games which will formally open on Friday night.
Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph
