MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine fencing team targets to win four gold medals aside from slamming home the overall title honors on home soil in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games national coach Rolando Canlas Jr said Wednesday, 06 November 2019.

“That´s our aim. We are targeting three to four golds. We want all our fencers to win medals. If not the gold, then silver or bronze,” said Canlas during a media forum hosted by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila.

The last time when the Philippines hosted the regional event back in 2005, the local fencers emerged as overall champions with five gold medals, five silvers, and a couple of bronzes.

“We want all our fencers to win medals. If not the gold, then a silver or bronze,” Canlas stressed.

The fencing event in this year’s SEA Games has a total of 12 gold medals that will be disputed among fencers from nine competing countries — men’s and women’s individual and team events in foil, epee, and saber.

The Filipinos failed to win a single gold in the 2015 SEA Games

and instead settled for a handful of silver medals. They marked their return to the top in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, with a gold, three silvers, and two bronzes.

The Philippine fencing team vied in major overseas competitions prior to this SEA Games, including Asian and World championships, and underwent intensive training in South Korea from Sept. 3 to Oct. 3.

The fencing team will also vie in the Taiwan Open from Nov. 14 to 18 in time for the SEA Games scheduled Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. (Lloyd Tagbago/IAMIGO/CNS)