RI sees fencing gold rush in Vietnam

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian fencing team looks set to enhance its medal haul with the inclusion of women's sabre and team events at the next Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam in December.

The 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur saw only individual events in men's and women's foil, men's and women's epee and men's sabre. Indonesia topped the standings with two golds and a silver. Thailand took two golds and the Philippines one.

Indonesia's fencing team manager for the Vietnam trip, Moeljono AR, said that the inclusion of team events and women's sabre would offer a total of 12 gold medals, compared to five in Malaysia.

"We have good prospects in the team events and women's sabre. Though we will have to be alert against rivals Thailand and the Philippines," Moeljono said as quoted by Antara here on Tuesday.

"If we can add another three to our Malaysia collection, it will be a good achievement," he said.

The team is currently grooming 12 men's and eight women's athletes under six coaches, two of whom are from China, Li Qiucheng and Ren Lin Min.

The two fencing golds in Kuala Lumpur made up the 72 overall gold collection by the Indonesian contingent to finish in third behind Malaysia (111) and Thailand (103) in the final standings.

The SEA Games are a biennial multi-event sporting showcase among the 10 Southeast Asia nations.