Love for Star Wars awakens the force for Singapore Sports School fencer Azfar Ong

SINGAPORE – Azfar Ong’s passion for fencing began with his love for the Star Wars films.

As a young boy, he initially wanted to play football, but his mum wanted him to try a different sport and nudged him into fencing when she learnt about the Singapore Sports School’s (SSP) Learn-to-Fence programme.

When he first put on the epee mask, Ong was won over. The avid Star Wars fan felt that the sport was fun, as suiting up made him feel like the movie’s villain Darth Vader.

Speaking to The Straits Times at the SSP’s SEA Games send-off ceremony on Nov 12, he said: “I don’t think any other sport is like fencing because, as a kid, you’re putting on the suit for the first time, it’s like you’re really suiting up to fight like a knight or a Jedi.

“I really like Luke Skywalker and Mace Windu, so being able to fight and poke my friends was very fun growing up. It felt like something I really wanted to do.”

The 19-year-old epee fencer will be suiting up for a fight soon, when he joins

Team Singapore’s 551 debutants

competing at the Dec 9-20 SEA Games. The biennial event in Thailand will feature Singapore’s largest-ever contingent of 930 athletes across 48 sports, of whom 128 are current are former SSP student-athletes.

Among the 55 Games-bound athletes at the ceremony on Nov 12 were badminton player and Games flag-bearer Yeo Jia Min, wushu exponent Zeanne Law and sprinter Kerstin Ong.

Ong, who started fencing when he was 12, said: “Ever since I first picked up my weapon, I really wanted to qualify for the national team and represent Singapore at this kind of Games.

“It’s my debut, but my mindset is the same as every other athlete. I’m going to give it my all, and hopefully make my country proud. The goal is always to get the gold medal. So even though it’s my debut, I’m still there to win.”

The teenager has also had to weather injuries – an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee and ankle issues – but he has bounced back since.

He said: “This always made me question and doubt myself, and I’ll say, ‘Is fencing really for me? Should I still stay in the sport?’,” before hailing the “physical and psychological” support that he has received from SSP.

Ong added: “It really showed me that even though I’m injured now, I won’t stay injured forever, and even though this is a dark place in my life at this moment in time, I still have many brighter things that will happen in the future.”

Like Ong, bowler Colleen Pee is also making her SEA Games bow in Thailand. While the 20-year-old has competed in several international competitions, winning team gold at the Asian Youth Bowling Championships in 2023, she is “a bit worried” about the Games.

The 20-year-old, who did not compete in the 2023 edition as bowling was not on the roster, said: “Since it’s my first time... I’m scared that I won’t do my best, but hopefully, I’m able to go in with an open mind, it’s just an eye-opener to experience what SEA Games is about.

“My target would definitely be the team event. I want everyone to come back with a medal in their hands, so that it’s a celebration for everyone. If there are individual or doubles medals, that will be a bonus for us.”

In his speech on Nov 12, SSP principal Ong Kim Soon told the athletes that it is “a very special privilege” to represent Singapore at the SEA Games.

He said: “As national athletes, you don’t just get to play your sports and enjoy it. You actually have a very special privilege – the privilege to inspire, the privilege to unite the nation, that is your privilege. So use it well.

“Tonight, as we send out our SEA Games athletes and coaches, I want you to know that we are extremely proud of you… You have what it takes. Now go out there and do your best, compete with courage and confidence. Fly the national flag with pride!”