IN THE 1st FT Open Championship 2023 held in Kuala Lumpur, Juliana Gomez emerged victorious, clinching the gold medal in the senior women’s epee category.

The country’s 22-year-old fencing sensation triumphed over Sara Sofea Idongesit of Five Star Fencing Club KEDAH with a score of 15-12 in an intense final match.

During her journey to the ultimate showdown, Juliana, the daughter of Leyte’s fourth district Congressman Richard Gomez and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez defeated Xin Mynn Ho of Blade Malaysia with a score of 15-11 in the semifinals. Electra Goh of Selangor and Ho both received the bronze medals.

As the tournament concluded, Juliana, accompanied by Sara Sofea Idongesit, Electra Goh, and Xin Mynn Ho, posed for a photo op to commemorate the event.

Expressing her joy and gratitude, Juliana said, “Winning the gold and bringing honor to my country has been an incredible experience for me.” Currently pursuing a degree in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, Juliana aims to join the national team now that she is nearing the end of her studies. She intends to dedicate more time to training and participating in competitions, with the aspiration of qualifying for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Juliana’s recent victory adds to her impressive track record, as she had previously claimed the gold medal in the women’s individual epee event at the UAAP championship and another gold in a tournament held in Thailand last year.

As she looks forward to the future, Juliana remains determined to continue her success in the world of fencing and represent her country with pride.