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SEA Games: Lau Ywen caps remarkable return from injury by winning fencing gold

KUALA LUMPUR — When she suffered a bad injury earlier this February, Lau Ywen faced a race against time to make it to the SEA Games.

Lau Ywen  celebrating her winning point against Thailand's Pornsawan Ngernrungru in the Women's Sabre Individual final. Photo by Huang Xiaolong/Sport Singapore. Other photos: Knight Ong /Sport Singapore and Teo Teng Kiat/TODAY

Lau Ywen celebrating her winning point against Thailand's Pornsawan Ngernrungru in the Women's Sabre Individual final. Photo by Huang Xiaolong/Sport Singapore. Other photos: Knight Ong /Sport Singapore and Teo Teng Kiat/TODAY

KUALA LUMPUR — The path to glory is rarely easy and that has rung true for both of Singapore’s fencing gold medallists at the 29th SEA Games.

Earlier this Monday (Aug 21), 16-year-old debutant Amita Berthier pulled off an emotional triumph in the women’s individual foil, which she dedicated to her late father, who had faith that his daughter would compete at the Games one day but was not present to witness her win as he passed away last February.

On Wednesday afternoon, teammate Lau Ywen tasted success in the women’s individual sabre, having nearly failed to make it to Kuala Lumpur after being laid low by a stress fracture injury in February.

The toll of constantly competing over the past year had gradually made an impact on her lower back and when the pain got too bad to ignore, a check-up diagnosed the 17-year-old with a pseudo-joint and chipped bone.

Her mother, Cynthia, admitted to TODAY: “We were prepared not to do the SEA Games if she didn’t recover in time… it was a risky thing to push so hard but she was really sensible, stuck to her rehabilitation and everything worked out.”

For Ywen, who picked up the sport at six, the Games was where she “really wanted” to be at after the longest injury lay-off of her career.

“I didn’t think I could stand it anymore as fencing is a really important part of my life,” she chuckled. “I just wanted to return to the community and SEA Games was the best circumstances I could do it.”

Ywen had to stick to a strict rehabilitation programme developed by physiotherapists at the Singapore Sports Institute and National Youth Sports Institute and only returned to full training a month ago.

The amount of preparation time for her second Games was less than ideal, but Ywen proved unstoppable at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

She eased to victory in all five of her poule matches and trumped Philippines’ Jlyn Nicanor 15-6 and Vietnam’s Bui Thi Thu Ha 15-11 in the quarter and semi-finals respectively.

The final was a close affair, but Ywen held her nerve to defeat top seed Pornsawan Ngernrungruangroj, 20 and add to her debut bronze from 2015.

She savoured the support in the stands from her parents, friends and team-mates, noting: “When I compete at other major competitions there’s always less of a support team, but when you come here (SEA Games) you always feel like there’s someone to back you up.

“I felt the sense of camaraderie and motivation on the piste and this being my first gold medal, I’m so happy to do everyone proud.”

Ywen’s coach, David Chan, added that the main focus was to get her acclimatised to competing again at a major tournament and was delighted at her win.

“On a scale of 1-10, it’s maybe a 100!” the 33-year-old laughed when asked how proud he was. “Because the resilience she has shown to bounce back and compose herself even though she has not fenced at a major competition for some time, the maturity she showed today is really amazing.”

Chan’s advice to his protege was simple – to fence freely and enjoy her return to the sport.

“What I saw today from her was that she was fencing in a very happy way, stress-free, no tension and that pulled her all the way through,” he said.

Cynthia revealed that being crowned Sportsgirl of the Year earlier this month for her historic cadet (Under-17) triumph at the World Junior and Cadet Championships last April – the Republic’s first ever world fencing title at any level – gave her daughter a huge confidence boost.

“I almost teared seeing her on the piste again and enjoying her fencing again,” she said, voice quivering slightly. “She’s had it rough and had to work really hard, and you never really know (where you are at) until you go out on the piste and try again.

“We were targeting a podium finish and to get the gold, I’m just so proud of her.”

The Republic’s only two previous Games golds in the women’s individual events came from Choy Fong Leng in the epee in 1989 and Wang Wenying in the foil in 2015.

With the fencing competition concluding on Wednesday, Singapore’s final medal haul comprises two golds and three bronzes.

It is the latest feather in the cap for Ywen, who is regarded as one of Singapore’s top fencing prospects along with Amita, and there is more to come.

The United World College South-east Asia Grade 12 student will take a short break before starting the new season in September, with junior (U-20) World Cup competitions lined up in Europe before the Asian and world championships next year. 

“When I fence, I want it to be about my own feelings, not about results, so I go out there and my idea is to express myself on the piste and do the best I can,” she said.

“I am not at my optimal (condition) yet and I am still trying to get there.”

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