LONDON, July 29 (Bernama) -- Two months of training in Italy and China proved useful for national fencer Yu Peng Kean who pulled an up-set by beating world number 28 Zeid Mannad from Egypt in the first round of the fencing event in the 2012 Olympics.
Peng Kean beat Zeid 15-2 to enter the second round before he was ousted by world number five Szilagyi Aron from Hungary, losing 1-15 in the men's sabre individual event at South Hall of the Olympic Park, here.
World number 37 Peng Kean, 21, who started with strong determination, is the second Malaysian fencer to compete in the Olympics after Ronnie Theseira, who took part in individual foil, epee and sabre events at the Tokyo Games in 1964.
"My stints in Rome and Guangzhou give me more confidence when facing both higher ranking fencers. The trainings had bettered my technique," he told Bernama after the competition Sunday.
Peng Kean put through his paces with fencing associations and private clubs in Italy in June and Guangzhou in July.
He qualified on merit for the London Olympics after finishing ninth and seventh respectively in the Asian Fencing Championship in 2010 and 2011.
Malaysian contingent chief-de-mission Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said he was proud of Peng Kean's achievement as the national fencer was the only Malaysian who joined the fray, twice.
"He managed to beat the much higher ranking fencer and that's an achievement. I hope we should look at fencing as a serious sport from now," he said.
From Zulhilmi Supaat -- BERNAMA
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