SINGAPORE \u2013 While fencing is not offered as a co-curricular activity at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls\u2019 School, that has not stopped Celeste Koay from winning a silver in the National School Games (NSG) B Division girls\u2019 sabre event at the OCBC Arena on April 23. <\/p>\n
The Secondary 4 student, who picked up the sport at the age of six, finished as runner-up after going down 15-7 in the final to Hwa Chong International\u2019s Nicki Wong.<\/p>\n
Her NSG journey, which also included a bronze in 2025, has been an unconventional one that was forged mostly through her own initiative, with support from her mum and school.<\/p>\n
In Sec 1, she was initially uncertain about participating in the NSG, finding it daunting to compete without any schoolmates by her side.<\/p>\n
But things changed in Sec 2, after learning that one of her schoolmates, Leah Wong, is also a fencer. Together, they asked their teachers to sign them up for competition.<\/p>\n
Having Leah alongside her made a significant difference. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very close to her… It\u2019s just the two of us… but you have someone to rely on who can understand you,\u201d the 15-year-old added.<\/p>\n
With no teacher-in-charge for fencing, Celeste\u2019s mother stepped in under the School Adult Representative scheme, taking on the responsibility of accompanying and supporting both Celeste and Leah throughout the competition. <\/p>\n
This ensured they were able to participate despite the lack of an official school structure.<\/p>\n
Balancing her studies with her official CCA, the Infant Jesus Youth Mission, and fencing training has not been easy. <\/p>\n
Celeste, who has thrice-weekly training sessions with her club Absolute Fencing, credits her school for being supportive of her commitments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re quite generous in allocating me time to go for training,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes I have to leave CCA early for fencing, and they allow it, which really helps.\u201d<\/p>\n
The joint bronze medallists were Sarah Tan of Singapore Sports School (SSP) and Chew Pang Rae Yan of New Town Secondary School.<\/p>\n
Rae Yan, whose bronze was a rare fencing medal for her school, had also won a joint bronze in the C Division girls\u2019 sabre in 2024.<\/p>\n Chew Pang Rae Yan, of New Town Secondary School, with her bronze medal from the National School Games B Div girls\u2019 sabre event on April 23. <\/p>\n ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Sec 4 student said: \u201cI really wanted to win one last medal before stepping down. Everybody (from New Town) was also cheering me on, so I didn\u2019t want to let them down.\u201d<\/p>\n The 15-year-old was fired up by their underdog status, saying: \u201cNeighbourhood schools don\u2019t have as many facilities, so many expect more from schools like Hwa Chong or RI (Raffles Institution).\u201d<\/p>\n Training at New Town, which registered 24 fencers for the NSG, is done under significant constraints, with space for up to only four training stations at a time. <\/p>\n But Rae Yan has also competed on the European cadet circuit with Gladius Fencing Club over the past two years, gaining valuable international exposure that she credits for her NSG performance.<\/p>\n In the B Division boys\u2019 epee final, Hwa Chong Institution\u2019s (HCI) Lucas Wang emerged victorious with a 15-9 victory over RI\u2019s Nathaniel Chan. HCI\u2019s Brian Chan and SSP\u2019s Ethan Tham finished joint-third.<\/p>\n Lucas Wang, of Hwa Chong Institution, celebrates after defeating Nathaniel Chan, of Raffles Institution, in the B Division boys\u2019 epee final at the OCBC Arena on April 23. <\/p>\n ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cFinally getting a gold medal is really a relief (after competing in the NSG for four years),\u201d said Lucas, a Sec 4 student.<\/p>\n After finishing seventh in 2025, he drew motivation from his coach at Blade Club, whose constant reminders to go \u201call the way\u201d stayed with him. <\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to go all the way to the finals from the first round, all the way to the last bout for the gold medal,\u201d said the 16-year-old, who is also a national youth fencer.<\/p>\n In the overall standings, which comprised results for all three weapons \u2013 foil, epee and sabre, HCI topped the B Division boys\u2019 category. SSP were second with RI third.<\/p>\n St Margaret\u2019s School claimed the B Division girls\u2019 title, with New Town second and SSP third.<\/p>\n Dive into all the sporting action and trends in Singapore with ST\u2019s\u00a0weekly newsletter.<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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