AICHI-NAGOYA, JAPAN — Filipino fencer Juliana Gomez, daughter of Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez, advanced to the Round of 16 in the women’s individual epee competition at the 2026 Asian Games, delivering the deepest run for the Philippine fencing delegation on the opening day of action at the Aichi Sky Expo.
Direct Elimination Campaign and Knockout Results
Navigating through pool play and early elimination rounds, Gomez represented both the country and her hometown of Ormoc City on the continental stage:
First Knockout Victory: Gomez secured her spot in the Table of 16 by defeating Fawzia Alrefae of Kuwait with a 15-8 scoreline in the Round of 32 direct-elimination match.
Round of 16 Stoppage: Her campaign concluded in the subsequent bout against Singapore's Elle Meihui Koh after the match was halted for non-combativity while Gomez trailed 3-1.
Rule Enforcement: Under International Fencing Federation (FIE) competition rules, a second non-combativity call during an individual direct-elimination bout results in a P-black card disqualification when scores remain unequal.
National Delegation Impact and Hometown Pride
Gomez's performance highlighted the growing sports footprint of Ormoc City athletes on the global stage:
Pacesetter Status: Gomez emerged as the top-performing Filipino fencer on the tournament's opening day, advancing further in direct elimination than her national teammates across epee and foil events.
Ormoc Sports Development: As part of Ormoc City's expanding athletic initiatives backed by local government support, Gomez's Round of 16 finish reinforces the city's commitment to developing world-class talent across international sports.
