A PARISIAN FAMILY AFFAIR AWAITS

Six of foil hopeful Berthier’s closest supporters will cheer her on at Olympics

- Kimberly Kwek

The Paris Olympics will be a special family affair for national fencer Amita Berthier, as the 23-year-old prepares for her second outing in the multi-sport showpiece.

In her debut at Tokyo 2020, her family was not able to travel to Japan as spectators were banned from stadiums during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This time, they will get to see the youngest Berthier in action. With the July 26-Aug 11 Games held in France the country of birth of her late father Eric - her grandparents Guy and Danielle, who are in their 80s, will be making the trip from Lyon to join her mother Uma and her three older siblings.

Berthier said: "I know they're supportive regardless of my results and I think they're just looking forward to seeing me compete. They haven't watched me in three years and now they're watching me at the biggest stage of fencing." She hopes to give them more to cheer about, after making history in 2021 by becoming the first Singaporean fencer to qualify for the Olympics on merit. She was later joined by teammate and epee fencer Kiria Tikanah.

Her debut and opening-round exit - she was knocked out in the table of 32 in Tokyo by eventual gold medallist Lee Kiefer of the United States-has only fuelled her ambition.