Brunei yesterday clinched their first medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Fencing Federation Championship when the women's Epee Team (Junior Under-21) bagged the bronze.

The team finished joint-third among the four teams that contested the event at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

The women's trio of national fencers Fatin Damia Mohd Saifuddin, Syahirunnisa Nazilah Munap and Hjh Nuradilah Hj Affendy lost 45-8 to the top-ranked Vietnam team of Le Thi Bich, Nguyen Thu Hian and Nguyen Thanh Van in the semi-finals.

Brunei were guaranteed a medal from the start as only four teams participated in the event the other two being Malaysia and Singapore.

Besides gold and silver for the winners and runners-up respectively, both losing semi-finalists were awarded the bronze.

After dominating the first two days of competition, Vietnam again ruled the arena yesterday collecting two of the three gold medals on offer on Day Three of competition.

They took gold in the women's Epee Team (Junior Under-21) after edging the Singapore team of Goh Wan Qi, Cheryl Lim, Nicolette Soh Junyi and Ranie Herlina Rhardja 45-41 in the final.

With only three teams competing in the women's Sabre Team (Junior Under-21), Vietnam received a bye in the semi-finals and defeated Indonesia 45-39 in the final for gold. Singapore took the bronze in the event.

Singapore also picked up their first gold of the tournament after defeating Indonesia 43-39 in the final of the men's Foil Team (Junior Under-21).

Both losing semi-finalists Malaysia and Vietnam shared the bronze.

Six national fencers will see action today in two categories.

The trio of Fatin Damia, Syahirunnisa Nazilah and Hjh Nuradilah will compete in the women's Foil Team (Junior Under-21) event while the team of Mohd Hafizuddin Hj Damit, brothers Ahmad Syahhir Syah and Ahmad Sharizan Shah Mohd Zaini will see action in the men's Sabre Team (Junior Under-21) event.

Brunei's men's Sabre Team, ranked second, are guaranteed at least another bronze with only four teams participating in the event.

They will take on the third-ranked Singapore side and the national fencing coach, Rocky Poerawinata, is hoping that the national fencers will be able to put up a good performance.

"Hopefully the athletes will be able to do their best and get that win. We have been preparing for this and we're quite confident on picking up the victory," said Rocky, in an interview with The Brunei Times, yesterday.

"It will be tough for the women's foil team though as we lack the experience compared to our opponents (Indonesia). But they will give it their best," he added.

The other category to be contested today is the men's Epee Team (Junior Under-21). All events will start at 9am.

Courtesy from Brunei Times