MAXINE Esteban underlined her Olympic medal credentials with a silver-medal finish in the 22nd African Fencing Championships on Thursday in Casablanca, Morocco.
A slim one-point loss to Egyptian fencer Yara Elsharkawy at 8-9 separated Esteban from the gold in the women’s individual foil event.
The Fil-Ivorian fencer, who took a step up from her top three finish in the African tilt last year, expressed her gratitude after reaching the continental podium yet again over a month before the Olympics goes underway in Paris, France.
READ: Maxine Esteban says pal Catantan a ‘worthy fencer to fence against'
“(Silver) in the African Championships’ 24 (in Morocco)! Missed the gold by 1 point but I’m so grateful for this! God is so gracious. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me get this!! To God be the glory,” Esteban wrote in an Instagram post.
Esteban dished out five group phase wins and outlasted Egypt’s Sara Arm Hossny (15-7) and Panama’s Malak Hanza (15-6) to reach the gold medal match.
In the end, the 23-year-old hotshot couldn’t break away from a late 8-all deadlock against Elsharkawy, leading her to a momentum-boosting medal win.
Moreover, Esteban also averted a near-all-Egyptian podium featuring Elsharkawy and the bronze-winning pair of Hamza and Egypt’s Noha Hamy.
The world No. 37 now sets her sights on the big dance in which she could face Filipina ace and her good friend Sam Catantan.
Esteban previewed what will soon be a monumental chapter in her young career as she takes her talents and shoots for gold in the grandest stage in all of sports.
“I’m very proud kasi I think coming into the Olympics, I’m representing both countries: the Philippines and Ivory Coast. You know, you can really never take away the Filipino in me and I will forever be Filipino,” said Esteban.
“I’m very thankful na people are still supporting me and I hope that they still continue to support not only me but the rest of the Philippine delegation going to the Olympics.”
“It’s very exciting na mag-compete sa Olympics and now I’m based sa Germany, I’m training there. Sasali ako sa marami pang competitions like the African Championship. Then, we have training in Poland and we’re going to a training camp in Paris with the Japanese national fencing team and French national team,” she added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
