Fencer Lim makes history at Dublin Satellite comp

SINGAPORE — Singapore national fencer Lim Wei Wen has added another feather to his cap, winning the country’s first Epee medal in a Satellite competition.

The 30-year-old, who is the first Republic’s Asian Games fencing medallist (bronze in men’s individual epee at the 2014 Asiad), battled his way to the podium at the Dublin Satellite competition on Sunday morning past a field of 66 fencers from around the world.

Lim, ranked No 167 in the world, beat Poland’s Radoslaw Zawrotniak (world No 34) 14-13 in the quarter-finals, before losing 15-10 to Poland’s Mateusz Antkiewicz in the semi-finals to take joint bronze with Slovakia’s Uros Balent.

“Before this, I just told myself to use this competition to benchmark myself against some of the world’s top players who are gearing up for 2016 Olympics,” Lim, who was congratulated by several of his fellow competitors after his quarter-final feat, told TODAY in a phone interview. “But still, this bronze came as quite a surprise to me. I am happy with my performance, and this will spur me on to keep doing better, and increase my self-belief.”

Lim’s recent form has fuelled suggestions that he is primed for a bid to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio, but the fencer is quick to play down the possibility.

“Yes, some of my national teammates are preparing to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, but I am preparing for 2020 (Tokyo Olympics),” he said. “A lot of people have asked me why I do not give the 2016 Olympics a go, but it is a little bit too late for me now (to prepare for a good performance) for the 2016 Games.

“I don’t want to qualify just for the sake of representing Singapore. If I go to the Olympics, I want to go knowing that I have a chance of winning a medal. That would be possible in 2020, and I am currently working towards that.”

Before the Dublin event, Lim travelled around Europe for a series of training camps and competitions in London and Copenhagen. He will head to the Doha Grand Prix next week, and will return to Singapore on Dec 7 before jetting off again to Taipei.

“All these trips are necessary for me to raise my standard to another level,” said Lim, whose European “tour” set him back about S$10,000.

“I am feeling comfortable, confident and motivated now. But I will not be resting on my laurels.”

Fencing Singapore secretary-general Francis Kwong lauded Lim’s performance and noted that Singapore’s fencers have raised their game this year.

“Our fencers have put in a lot of dedication and hard work,” said Kwong. “Hopefully, this momentum will continue. I believe we will see the first Singaporean fencer to qualify on merit for the Olympics soon.” ADELENE WONG