MANILA — Fresh from capturing a Southeast Asian fencing title at just 13 years old, Christine May Morales is setting her sights on increasingly bigger stages — from the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games to the ultimate goal of representing the Philippines in the Olympics.
The Grade 8 student of the University of the East-Manila strengthened her status as one of the country’s promising young fencers after ruling the Under-14 Junior Women’s Foil event of the Southeast Asian Fencing Federation (SEAFF) Junior and Cadet Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Morales defeated fellow Filipino Yuri Simmone Canlas in an all-Filipino championship duel to secure the gold medal.
“I’m very happy that I was able to contribute to the team’s campaign. Playing against Yuri Canlas was tough, and I felt nervous at first. But I quickly motivated myself to stay focused, play hard, and give my best. In the end, it paid off,” Morales said during the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports Inc. (TOPS) “Usapang Sports” forum.
Morales also helped the Philippines collect another medal after joining Willa Galvez and Victoria Malvar in securing silver in the Cadet Women’s Team Foil event.
The Philippines finished third overall in the SEAFF championships with 25 medals — five gold, seven silver and 13 bronze.
Singapore topped the medal standings with six gold, three silver and four bronze medals, while Thailand placed second with five gold, five silver and four bronze.
But Morales views her latest international success as only another step in a much longer journey.
The young Filipino-American fencer hopes to gain more international exposure and eventually train overseas alongside her teammates as she prepares herself for tougher competition and pursues spots in the SEA Games, Asian Games and, ultimately, the Olympics.
“My teammates are also my best friends, and I want us to train together and improve together so we can compete against the best fencers in the region and, someday, the world,” she said.
Morales will have several opportunities to sharpen her skills in the coming months, beginning with the third leg of the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) Junior and Cadet International Championships on Aug. 29 and 30.
She will then compete in the second leg of the PFA Minime, Veterans and Recreational tournament on Sept. 5 and 6 and the fourth leg of the PFA Open on Oct. 17 and 18.
Her schedule also includes the Philippine Open International on Nov. 29 and 30 and the third leg of the PFA Minime and Veterans International on Dec. 19 and 20.
The tournaments will be staged at venues within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
For Morales, every competition represents another opportunity to gain experience, sharpen her technique and face stronger opponents as she steadily works toward representing the Philippines on the biggest stages in international fencing./PN
