Khmer-Italian fencer underperforms in this Asian Competition
New Delhi, 20 June 2026
Fencer Olga participated in the 2026 Asian Senior Fencing Championships in the foil event yesterday, finishing in 10th place after losing to the Chinese fencer with a score of 8-15 in the round 16.
The Asian Senior Fencing Championships is a continental-level event recognized by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) and serves as one of the point-accumulation events for Olympic qualification. As of the 2024 Olympic Games, fencing in Asia has been internationally recognized as having the strongest athletes compared to those from other continents. Specifically, South Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong are nations that have secured gold medals at both the Olympics and the World Championships.
In 2025, Olga competed in the World Senior Fencing Championships in Georgia, ranking 29th after being defeated by a French fencer with a score of 11-15 in the round 32. Following that competition, Olga requested a temporary leave from the federation to study and prepare for her bar exam in April 2026. After completing the exam, Olga pursued a Master's degree to further enhance her knowledge for her legal career.
Regarding her recent performance, both her coach and Olga herself feel that she has not yet met expectations. "I know I haven't done well yet, even though I ranked 10th. This is because my preparation time was too short," Olga shared her thoughts after the match. "However, it’s not a worry for me; it is a fresh start in preparing for the world-level competition taking place this coming July in Hong Kong, as well as other international events to earn qualification for the upcoming 2028 Olympics."
Indeed, the primary goal for both the federation and this fencer is the 2028 Olympic Games. Although several plans have recently been altered due to decisions made by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport and the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, the federation continues to coordinate and restructure its plans to achieve its goal. Specifically, missing out on the 20th Asian Games in Japan—which the federation had set as a major target to highly evaluate the fencer's maximum capabilities—impacts her preparation for the point-accumulation events starting in early 2027 to qualify for the Olympics.
Mr. Sok Ang, a senior official of the federation and one of the coaches, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decisions made by the Ministry and the Olympic Committee. He stated: "We did not receive any information regarding the sports selection until the news reported that a meeting was held with the sports teams participating in the Asian Games. The plans we had been preparing since September 2025 were changed by nearly 50%. As an Olympic sport, we had set a joint goal with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia to secure at least one bronze medal at the 2028 Olympics. But we have no choice, as the leaders of both institutions have already made their decision. What we must do now is shift our direction and continue our efforts to the best of our abilities."
He also shared his thoughts on the Khmer-Italian fencer's performance in this Asian-level tournament: "Actually, the Vice President and I expected her to reach the round 8, but I also understand that aside from taking a break to prepare for her bar exam, she also faced travel issues." He added, "I discussed things with Olga after the match, and we have set a new, clear goal leading up to 2028."
