PETALING JAYA, March 16 — Saif Nordin was first introduced to fencing at Touche Fencing Club in Petaling Jaya when he was just eight. At the time, it was merely a weekend activity suggested by his mother, Somaya Ong, 45.
But what started as a casual try soon grew into a deep passion. Today, the 15-year-old carries the responsibility of being a national athlete, hoping to one day bring pride to the country.
Saif described fencing as a sport that demands not only physical strength but also strategy and sharp mental focus.
“Before taking fencing seriously, I used to play tennis and taekwondo, but those were just to fill my free time.
“But fencing is different. I have to stay sharp and think carefully during matches, and that gives me great satisfaction,” he told Media Selangor.
Fencing is a one-on-one combat sport using bladed weapons, requiring agility, speed and precise techniques to attack and defend.
There are three main weapons used in the sport — foil, épée and sabre — each with its own rules and techniques.
Generally, points are scored when a fencer’s weapon touches a valid target area on the opponent, which is typically detected through an electronic scoring system.
Standing at 184 centimetres tall, the teenager has already qualified for several international competitions and is among Selangor’s medal hopes for the upcoming SUKMA in August.
The athlete, who has Lebanese-Australian and Chinese heritage, has collected 17 gold medals, three silver medals and 15 bronze medals from 2023 to last year.
All those achievements reflect Saif’s discipline and commitment, as he follows a strict daily routine to balance both academics and sports training.
Training even during Ramadan
Every day, the youngest of four siblings begins his morning with classes at Sunway International School in Sunway City. After school, Saif undergoes four hours of physical training.
He then allocates another two to three hours each day for fencing practice, including sessions with his personal coach Andrew Mok Vern-Han every Saturday, while Fridays are reserved as rest days.
“Even during Ramadan, I continue my training as usual. It is not an excuse for me to rest or reduce my training hours,” said the athlete, who is sponsored by Yayasan Menteri Besar Selangor (Pemerbadanan) or MBI.
Saif looks up to Japan’s world number one fencer Iimura Kazuki as his idol. One of his key strategies during competition, he said, is to remain calm and focused.
When the pressure of competitions builds up, he takes a short break to clear his mind by chatting with friends or family members.
Saif’s father, Nordin Abdullah, described his son as hardworking and dedicated, adding that much credit should go to his mother, who ensures everything runs smoothly.
Fittingly, the name Saif, which means sword in Arabic, reflects his chosen sport. The 49-year-old father hopes his youngest child will one day make history by representing the country at the 2032 Olympic Games in Australia.
“We want to go as far as possible. If the opportunity comes, I hope Saif can qualify for the 2032 Olympic Games. Many people do not realise that athletes need eight to 10 years of training to be ready.
“This is a major programme to prepare Saif. I must thank many parties including the State Sports Council, Yayasan MBI, the Olympic Council of Malaysia, the Malaysian Fencing Federation and others,” he said.
