Manila: After dominating the Southeast Asian Fencing Federation (SEAFF) Junior and Cadet Championship in Malaysia, the country's young fencers are aiming to participate in the World and Asian championships at the junior and cadet levels next year. The Philippines secured a total of 25 medals, including five golds, seven silvers, and 13 bronzes, during the competition held from August 6 to 14.

According to Philippines News Agency, Oscar Del Castillo led the team with a remarkable performance, capturing the men's epee gold in the U17 cadet category and a silver medal in the U21 junior category. "It's not just the medals, but equally important is the points we'll get from the SEAFF, because points we earned will be added to our overall ranking points," Del Castillo stated during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

The team also saw notable performances from Willa Galvez, who secured a bronze in junior women's foil, along with silver medalist Hagia Del Castillo in women's foil. Bronze medalists included Yuna Canlas and Victoria Ebdane in women's foil, Papina Torre in women's epee, Jethro Chan in men's foil, and Don Reyzel Geronimo in men's epee in the cadet category. The points earned at SEAFF will contribute to their standings in other international events they have participated in, such as the Asian Cadet Cup and the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) Junior and Cadet tournament.

"It's important as an athlete to compete in as many international competitions as we can, especially in a competition that allows me to have the exposure. Playing against players from other countries are things that will push me to be better as a fencer, both locally and internationally," said the 16-year-old Ebdane, a Grade 11 student at Home School Global.

The final leg of the PFA Junior and Cadet tournament is scheduled to take place at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum from August 29 to 30. "It's going to be an exciting third leg because it's the final leg, and the points every fencer will get is very crucial," noted 15-year-old Galvez, a Grade 10 student at the University of the East.

The top four fencers in the cadet and junior categories will move forward to compete in the Asian Championships in China and the World Championship in Estonia in March and April next year, respectively.