Rahm Kiria Tikanah Abdul gave Singapore its second gold medal in fencing by beating Filipino Hanniel Abella 15-12 in the epee final of the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday night at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Rahm grabbed an early 6-3 lead in the first round, and then took a commanding 13-6 advantage in the second round.
Abella rallied back to trim the deficit to 14-12 late in the third round. But the Singaporean was not to be denied as she connected the winning point to seal the gold medal.
Amita Berthier gave Singapore its first gold medal when she ruled the women’s individual foil event with a victory against compatriot Maxine Wong 15-10 last Tuesday.
Chornnasun Mayakarn also gave Thailand its first gold in the event following a thrilling 15-14 win over Malaysia’s Hans Yoong in the men’s individual foil event.
Yoong defeated Nathaniel Perez of the Philippines 15-11 in the semifinal round, while Mayakarn defeated Singapore’s Joshua Ian Lim 15-13 in the other semifinal pairing.
Perez settled for the bronze medal, the second for the host nation as he joined Samantha Catantan, who also got the bronze last Tuesday in the individual women’s foil event.
Abella’s silver was also the second for the Philippines.
Christian Concepcion took a bronze medal following a 15-13 setback to Vietnam’s Vu Thanh An in the men’s individual sabre.