FORCE IS STRONG WITH SEA GAMES-BOUND ONG

Star Wars-loving fencer targeting gold on his debut at Dec 9-20 Games in Thailand

- Melvyn Teoh

Azfar Ong's passion for fencing began with his love for the Star Wars films.

As a young boy, he initially wanted to play football, but his mum wanted him to try a different sport and nudged him into fencing when she learnt about the Singapore Sports School's (SSP) Learn-to-Fence programme.

When he first put on the epee mask, Ong was won over. The avid Star Wars fan felt that the sport was fun, as suiting up made him feel like the movie's villain Darth Vader.

Speaking to The Straits Times at the SSP's SEA Games sendoff ceremony on Nov 12, he said: "I don't think any other sport is like fencing because, as a kid, you're putting on the suit for the first time, it's like you're really suiting up to fight like a knight or a Jedi.

"I really like Luke Skywalker and Mace Windu, so being able to fight and poke my friends was very fun growing up. It felt like something I really wanted to do."