Moving past her disappointing show at July’s World Fencing Championships in Milan, Amita Berthier is focused on getting a podium finish at this month’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The foil fencer, who will be Singapore’s flag-bearer alongside wushu exponent Jowen Lim, claimed a historic bronze at June’s Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China.
She hopes to do just as well or better at the Sept 23-Oct 8 Asiad.
“I have my eyes set on the podium,” the 22-year-old told tabla!.
“After breaking that milestone in Wuxi for myself and Fencing Singapore, I’m itching to get that medal. It’s not going to be easy but I look forward to it and will give my best.”
Competing in the individual event at July’s World Fencing Championships, Berthier lost 15-10 to Maia Weintraub of the United States in the Round of 64, while the Singapore women’s foil team lost 45-35 to Egypt in the Last 32.
Despite not performing up to her own expectations, the three-gold SEA Games medallist is staying positive as she targets a medal in Hangzhou and direct entry to next year’s Paris Olympics as one of the top two fencers in the Asia-Oceania region.
“I was just a bit disappointed with my results at the World Championships because I had one of the best preparations of my life but didn’t get the result I expected,” said Berthier.
“I just remind myself that it doesn’t mean I’m not a good fencer, ups and downs are a nature of the sport.”
Managing expectations and dealing with disappointments are some things she has been working on with a sports psychologist. She also has a strong support system that includes her family.
Berthier’s Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020 “helped relieve some pressure” as she ticked the competition off her checklist of milestones.
“It’s my determination and the belief that I deserve to be on the podium that are driving me. And working with my coach, who had trained Olympic gold medallist Lee Kiefer, definitely boosts my confidence.”
To prepare for her medal hunt in Hangzhou, she has been training in the US with her University of Notre Dame coach Angad Khazbak and Ines Boubakri.
The 34-year-old Boubakri, who made history by winning Tunisia’s first Olympic fencing medal with her foil bronze at Rio 2016, retired after the Tokyo Olympics.
“I’ve never worked with someone who has retired but I think it has worked out very well,” said Berthier.
“Ines went up against the same opponents I compete with, so the information, advice and experience that she shares with me give me an advantage.
“She’s also left-handed, so she can see things from my perspective.”
Training under two coaches, Berthier gets to draw from a mix of fencing styles.
While Khazbak’s style is more aggressive and focuses on fencing from a distance, Boubakri specialises in the French style, with priority on technique and closer sparring distance.
At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Berthier and teammates Maxine Wong, Tatiana Wong and Melanie Huang won a team foil bronze – it was Singapore’s first fencing team medal at the event.
Should she get a podium finish in Hangzhou, Berthier will be just the second Singaporean fencer to win an individual medal at Asiad. Lim Wei Wen clinched an epee bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games.
“Obviously the goal is to be on the podium and I don’t think it’s out of reach for me,” said Berthier.
“I need to stop looking at top 16 or 8. At every competition, I need to believe that I can make the podium because I have beaten some really good fencers. I know I can make it.”
