Singaporean fencer Maxine Wong has secured her first individual Asian Games medal, winning bronze in the women’s foil at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
The 25-year-old reached the semi-finals at Aichi Sky Expo on Wednesday, September 23, guaranteeing herself a medal before her run ended with a 15-6 defeat to Japan’s world No. 3 and home favourite Yuka Ueno.
Under Asian Games fencing rules, both losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals, giving Wong her second Asian Games medal after her women’s team foil bronze at the 2018 Jakarta Games.
Wong battles through tough draw to reach the podium
Wong’s path to the medal was anything but straightforward.
She began the individual competition by winning three of her five pool bouts, advancing to the knockout rounds.
In the table of 32, she defeated the Philippines’ Janna Allysah Catantan 15-2.
Her biggest breakthrough came in the next round, where Wong faced China’s defending Asian Games champion Huang Qianqian.
Wong edged Huang 12-10, recording her first victory over the Chinese fencer after losing to her at the Asian Championships in June.
Her coach Oleg Matseichuk had given her a simple piece of advice before the bout: do the opposite of what she had done against Huang previously.
It worked.
“I stayed calm,” Wong said after the match, recalling her coach’s advice.
Another major victory secured Wong’s medal
Wong then faced Hong Kong’s Daphne Chan, a bronze medallist from the previous Asian Games.
The Singaporean produced another strong performance, winning 15-6 in the quarter-finals.
That victory guaranteed Wong a place on the podium and secured Singapore another fencing medal at the Games.
Her semi-final opponent was Ueno, a Japanese fencer ranked No. 3 in the world.
With the home crowd behind Ueno, Wong battled through the bout but ultimately lost 15-6.
Ueno later defeated South Korea’s Park Ji-hee 15-4 in the final to claim gold. Park took silver, while Wong and Uzbekistan’s Polina Volobueva shared bronze.
A milestone for Wong — and Singapore fencing
The bronze represents a significant personal milestone for Wong.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, she won a team foil bronze alongside Amita Berthier, Tatiana Wong and Melanie Huang. She also finished fifth in the individual event.
At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Wong reached the last 16 of the individual competition.
Her 2026 bronze therefore marks her first individual podium finish at the Asian Games.
The result also makes Wong the third Singaporean fencer to win an individual Asian Games medal.
Lim Wei Wen previously won men’s individual epee bronze in 2014, while Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman made history just one day before Wong by winning silver in the women’s individual epee.
Family support makes the medal even more special
Wong’s parents and elder sister were in Nagoya to watch her compete — something she described as particularly meaningful.
The family had also been present at her first Asian Games in 2018, when she won the team bronze.
“My parents and sisters coming here is really special,” Wong said, according to Team Singapore. She described them as her “lucky charms” because they were present for both of her Asian Games medals.
Her parents have supported her fencing career for years, travelling to competitions around the world to watch her compete.
Her mother, Chan Bee Bee, told The Straits Times that the medal represented much more than what spectators see on the podium, pointing to the years of setbacks, injuries, disappointment and hard work behind the achievement.
Wong keeps her focus on the team event
Despite winning an individual medal, Wong’s Asian Games campaign is not over.
She is scheduled to return to competition on September 26 for the women’s foil team event alongside her Singapore teammates.
Her individual success could also provide momentum ahead of Singapore’s hosting of the 2027 FIE Senior Women’s Foil World Cup, which will bring a major international fencing competition to the Republic.
Wong said the Asian Games achievement could help boost confidence within Singapore fencing ahead of the event.
Singapore’s fencing campaign gains momentum
Wong’s bronze comes just a day after Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman won silver in the women’s individual epee.
Tikanah’s result was Singapore’s best-ever individual fencing finish at the Asian Games, while Wong’s bronze added another medal to a strong week for the Republic’s fencing contingent.
For Wong, however, the achievement is also the culmination of a journey that began when she first picked up fencing at just six years old.
Nearly two decades later, she has added an individual Asian Games medal to her collection — and has another opportunity to reach the podium with Singapore’s foil team still to come.
