The women's epee team celebrating after orchestrating a come-from-behind victory in the quarters. Photo: SNOC/ Kong Chong Yew
Staring down the prospect of defeat in the women’s team epee quarter-finals, top seeds Singapore trailed Uzbekistan 29-37 and were on the brink of elimination.
Up stepped recently crowned world junior No. 1 Elle Koh onto the piste for her anchor bout as she dragged her team back from the brink to win 42-41, booking a place in the semi-finals.
The result on Friday (Sep 25) afternoon guaranteed Singapore its third fencing medal of the Games, and its first-ever Asian Games medal in the event.
The team’s most experienced member and “hype” woman while they were trailing, Kiria Tikanah, said: “We’ve been putting in the effort all year round, and I think it has culminated in something that we can be very proud of.”
“I think it was the nerves… we started very stiff, so I think it was just a matter of being able to relax and just fence our normal game.”
For Koh, who admitted to experiencing jitters before her anchor bout, hearing the words of assurance from teammate Esther Tan helped steady her.
“I’ve come back from point deficits before, and it was do-or-die. I just gave my all,” Koh said, having masterminded comebacks from large deficits against the likes of China and Spain at other team competitions.
A valiant display against reigning gold medallist Republic of Korea in the semis saw them play out a 45-35 defeat to clinch joint-bronze.
Kiria’s silver and Koh’s sixth-placed finish in the individual event three days earlier had earned the team a helpful bye to the quarter-finals.
The pair were joined by Tan and Filzah Hidayah Nor Anuar, who was nursing two torn muscles and bone bruises from the team’s training camp in China.
Having won SEA Games gold last December, and an unprecedented joint-bronze at June’s Asian Fencing Championships, where it was Koh’s first time anchoring in a senior team event, the quartet looked well within reach of a podium finish.
Two-time Olympian Kiria got her side off to a bright start with the Singaporeans leading 5-1.
Epee coach Henry Koh, who is Elle’s father, said: “Kiria was as steady as a rock throughout.”
As the match wore on, the Uzbeks pulled away with the score at 26-15 in their favour at one point.
But a late surge by the 19-year-old turned the tide as she landed the golden point in sudden-death overtime, unleashing wild celebrations among Singaporean supporters.
Koh’s teammates rushed to embrace her on the piste, the jubilant group collapsing into a delirious heap of celebration.
Henry added: “For Elle, we let her do her thing, and this time she locked in and the magic happened. She’s fully capable of doing that.”
The results at the Aichi Sky Expo were especially encouraging for Henry and the team.
“These are a small but steady number of steps that we've taken towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification. We are actually making really, really steady progress and I think we're proving our point," he said.
The men’s foil team comprising Zephaniah Kiew, Keyon Loo, Raphael Tan and Samuel Robson opened their charge with a convincing 45-19 win over Oman in the round of 16.
The team pushed Hangzhou silver medallist China in the quarters but eventually fell 45-27.
They also exited at the same stage at the last edition when they lost 45-34 to Hong Kong.
Team Singapore’s fencers continue their campaign with the women’s foil team event on Saturday (Sep 26).
The 20th Asian Games are held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.