MIRI, The decision to train abroad just weeks before the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) paid off handsomely for young Federal Territories fencer K. Kaerlan Vinod after he won the gold medal in the men’s foil individual event today.

The 16-year-old athlete said he spent two weeks training in Taiwan with fellow fencers from around the world, which proved instrumental in his success at the Eastwood Valley Golf Club here.

In the final, Kaerlan came from behind 4-9 to defeat teammate Goh Wen Hao, who is a year older, with a final score of 15-12 to snatch the gold medal.

‘I’ve defeated him and also lost to him before but today I won back. Glad to contribute this medal to the Federal Territories contingent.

“Been training hard in the past two years for SUKMA and went for the training camp in Taiwan. To get this gold was worth the effort,’ he told Bernama.

Selangor’s Heng Yu Shern took the bronze after defeating Ian Zafir Harris from Terengganu.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency