NEWSFLASH

---

JAPAN RULES ASIAN YOUTH FENCING MEET

Pasig City, Nov. 18, 1998 - The Philippines consoled itself with two bronze medals as Japan emerged successful in its gold medal rush late Monday in the 5th Asian Youth Fencing Championships at the Philsports arena in Pasig City.

Almario Viscayno and Rolando Canlas shared third place after losing their semifinal matches against their respective Japanese counterparts. The duo, however, gave the Philippines its best finish ever in this biennial tournament, which is being held for the first time in the country.

Viscayno bowed to eventual boys' cadet foil champion Takuji Harao, 5-15, while Canlas lost to Takahashi Kakinuma, 10-15.

The Japanese also dominated the girls' cadet foil event with Aya Wada's 15-8 victory over compatriot Manami Ikeda. To Pui Yin of Hong Kong and Chisato Sone of Japan shared third place.

Meanwhile, five Filipino entries registered at least two victories each as they all entered the direct elimination phase of cadet boys' epee individual event.

Avelino Victorino and Carmelo Jerico Dayrit had four preliminary victories, just behind the five-win slates of Japan's Mitsuaki Yabuta and Iran's Mohammad Rezaie, to lead the Filipinos to the next phase.

Viscayno returned here to register three wins while Nathaniel Cruz and Canlas had two each. Maita Gamallo was also impressive in the girls' cadet epee individual event as she scored four wins, towing four other Filipinas to the direct elimination phase. Advancing with Gamallo were Celina Dayrit, Aki Carolina, Wendolyne Mendoza and Kala Pasamba.

Back to the PHILIPPINEHEADLINE NEWS ONLINE HomePage