Summer Universiade 2013. SINGAPORE FENCING TEAM. The Singapore
Fencing Team is led by Team Manager, Chiang Chai Liang and. Coach Wu Jie.
Summer Universiade 2013
SINGAPORE FENCING TEAM The Singapore Fencing Team is led by Team Manager, Chiang Chai Liang and Coach Wu Jie. The team consists of 10 fencers from various local tertiary institutions. In preparation for the World University Games, the Fencers have been improving their skills and technique by training and sparring with various partners. Team Manager, Chai Liang (pictured left), has been managing the Singapore Fencing team for the past 5 Universiades, and it was no surprise that he chose to lead the Fencing Team again at this year’s World University Games in Kazan, Russia. This time, he is accompanied by Coach Wu Jie (pictured below), a former Team Singapore Fencer.
We are sure the Team is committed to giving their best at this year’s Games. We will certainly be cheering them on in Singapore!
Victoria Ann Lim (SIM) and Goh Wan Qi (NUS) tells us more about themselves and their preparations for the 2013 World University Games. SUSC: How long have you been preparing individually for the Games?
The selection process began at the start of the year, where each fencer was chosen based on their ranks for each respective weapon group. The rankings were determined by their competition results in 2012 and 2013, as well as their international and local standings.
Victoria: I have been preparing for the Games since the start of the year.
Wan Qi: It is hard to pinpoint an exact start date or period because training has been a continuum for me since I am in the National Team. In fact, I was already all geared up and excited for this upcoming Games since the previous World University Games in Shenzhen ended. It was such a good experience and I really hoped to prepare myself to perform better in Kazan.
Chai Liang believes that to excel in sports, you have to keep finding the inspiration and motivation to carry on, till you achieve your goals. There is a difference between interest and commitment. Interest is only doing something when it’s convenient, while commitment is not accepting excuses, only results. 1
FENCING team From left: Ng Kuan Khai (NUS), Daniel Foo (SIM), Sonia Mao (SMU), Ng Kian Seng (SMU), Zhang Zhenggang (NUS), Wu Jie (Coach), Nicolette Soh (NUS), Victoria Ann Lim (SIM), Tan Yuan Zi (NUS), Goh Wan Qi (NUS), Not in picture - Mikail Ling (SIM), Chiang Chai Liang (Team Manager)
SUSC: What was the best advice you were ever give and from whom? Victoria: My personal coach, Wu Jie, once told me that “to accept graciously for it is from losing that you learn how to become a champion. Nobody starts out winning.”. Wan Qi: One of the most impressionable ones was to “fence one point at a time”. This is very helpful when I am trailing by a few points in a fencing bout, and has helped to keep my composure and to focus on the things I should do to score a point. This step-by-step approach ensures a more steady comeback. SUSC: What are your greatest individual achievements? Victoria: My greatest individual achievements would be representing Singapore at the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta and winning Gold at the Women’s Epee Individual events in the Thailand Open, Taipei Open and Malaysia Open Fencing Championships all in the same competitive year. Wan Qi: I would say that being able to take part in big international competitions like the World University Games, Grand Prix and Asian Fencing Championships have been great achievements for me. Knowing that I am able to fence with world-class athletes has been very fulfilling and rewarding. In terms of medal tally, some of my achievements include a Silver in the Women’s Epee Individual in Thailand Open 2011 and Silver in the same event at the Malaysia Open 2012. I was also in the Singapore Team that won Silver in the SEA Fencing Championships 2012. SUSC: Describe an embarrassing athletic moment: Victoria: It happened during the Asian Fencing Championships Team event. I was the anchor and the score was tied, so I had to fence for the last point in sudden death. Winning would create a historic win for Singapore, while losing would give us the same old ending, just like every year. I had planned to execute a really nice hit to the opponent’s hand, but because of my nervousness, I hesitated during my execution. I was not sure if I had landed the hit properly till my light came on. It was really embarrassing because I was supposed to be really happy upon winning but I had a shocked look on my face and my joy only set in a few seconds after. Upon seeing my face, everyone thought that it was a lucky hit. Such a historic moment but i messed it up; if only i had acted cooler. Wan Qi: This is a tough question! I guess the funny parts are during trainings. As you know, fencing requires us to put on several layers of protective uniform, and for females, it is mandatory to put on a chest protector. Sometimes i get so engrossed in talking to friends as I change that i forget to put the all-so-important chest protector on! Of course, I would realise before I went up the piste.
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