Fencers draw strength from teammates on perfect day

BANGKOK - Facing a partisan home crowd, and with the added pressure of having seen her teammates win two earlier titles, Singapore fencer Juliet Heng found herself trailing home favourite Tonkhaw Phokaew 12-14 in the women's individual sabre final.

- David Lee Senior Sports Correspondent

Singapore fencer Juliet Heng going on the attack against Tonkhaw Phokaew of Thailand in the women's individual sabre final at Fashion Island Shopping Mall in Bangkok on Dec 16. The 20-year-old scored three straight points to win 15-14 and clinch the gold medal. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

(ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO)

She said inside the dimly lit Fashion Island Shopping Mall's Island Hall: "I can't lie. I watched Raphael (Tan), and he fenced so good. I watched Elle (Koh) and Kiria (Tikanah Abdul Rahman), and that was a confirmed gold, and I was thinking, 'If I don't win, there won't be Majulah Singapura for my part'.

"Then I told myself, 'No, no, no, I have to lock in. Okay, okay, let's go sing Majulah Singapura', and then I made it."

Remarkably, with her back against the wall, Heng won the next three points to silence the crowd, defend her SEA Games crown and cap a campaign in which she had to bounce back from defeats in the pool stage.