SEA Games: Fencer Amita Berthier strikes gold in dream Games debut
KUALA LUMPUR — At the SEA Games two years ago on home soil, Eric Berthier told his daughter Amita, then a volunteer who helped to carry the bags of Singapore’s fencers, that she would follow in their footsteps one day.
Amita Berthier (left) competes with Samantha Kyle Catantan of the Philippines during the women's foil individual final of the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Kuala Lumpur on August 21, 2017. Photo: AFP
KUALA LUMPUR — At the SEA Games two years ago on home soil, Eric Berthier told his daughter Amita, then a 14-year-old volunteer who helped to carry the bags of Singapore’s fencers, that she would follow in their footsteps one day.
On Monday (Aug 21) afternoon, that prophecy was fulfilled — and more — as the rising teen fencer clinched Singapore’s first fencing gold at the Kuala Lumpur Games in a dream debut.
The 16-year-old kept her cool to record a 15-7 victory over Samantha Kyle Catantan of the Philippines, who is a year younger, in the women’s individual foil final at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
It was a surreal triumph for Amita, who had to contend with the loss of her father, who died in a workplace accident in February last year.
“I feel really happy because a few of my family members and friends came down to support me and that means a lot,” she said.
“My mum has been here with me all the way and in my career, she’s my pillar of strength.”
Amita’s tears then started to fall as she added: “And to have done it for my dad, especially — I’m pretty sure he’ll be happy for the gold I won today.
“It is one of my most memorable achievements.”
Her emotional mother, Uma, could not hold back tears as well after watching her youngest of four children pull off a stunning triumph.
“My first thought when she does well always goes back to my husband, because he was the one who ignited the passion for fencing in my girls,” she said.
“When Amita was pulling the bags along the fencing strip (in 2015), he’d always say ‘you’ll get there one day’ and that was the first thing that went through my mind and I was just thinking about him.”
Amita’s success came on the back of a bronze medal in the foil at the world cadet (Under-17) championships earlier this year and a historic round-of-32 finish at the senior world championships last month.
That Amita also won gold in the Asian cadet championships just three weeks after her father passed and chose to base herself in Boston since last October to advance her fencing development is testament to her remarkable maturity.
“I’m always in admiration of my daughter’s courage and strength,” Uma added.
“She gives that to me, to be able to do that at this age and no matter what the adversity is, I see her pulling herself through … passion and love for the sport, and that gives me the
greatest pleasure as a mum.”
MOTHER'S PRIDE: #OneTeamSG's Amita Berthier's mum, Uma, talks about her daughter's dream
It is Singapore’s second consecutive triumph in the individual women’s foil, after Wang Wenying’s gold two years ago.
Singapore’s only other SEA Games individual women’s title in the sport was Choy Fong Leng’s epee gold in 1989.
The Republic’s other foilist, Nicole Wong, had to settle for joint-bronze after losing 14-15 to Samantha in the semi-final, while debutant Ahmad Huzaifah, 17, won bronze in the individual men’s sabre.
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