Koh not keen on another SEA Games, but eyes chance to qualify for Paris Olympics

Playing for Paris: Joshua Koh competing in the men’s epee team event quarter-finals. — GLENN GUAN/ The Star

JOSHUA Koh will switch focus to pursue Olympic qualification for Paris next after missing out on bringing back a fencing medal from Cambodia SEA Games.

It was a valiant fightback from Joshua when he stepped in while Malaysia were trailing 23-40 against Thailand in the men’s team epee quarter-finals at Chroy Changvar Convention Centre yesterday.

Joshua managed to win 12 points but it was not enough as Chaloemchanen Chinnaphat needed just five points to seal victory.

The Thais, having won 45-35, thus progressed to the semi-finals against Singapore.

The other members who fought in the team event for Malaysia were Isaac Seet and Kelvyn Kok Mancheng.

“My performance was not good enough today. But I think we have a good future and this is a good experience for the younger ones competing,” said the 32-year-old, who won the individual epee gold medal at the Indonesia SEA Games in 2011.

It’s the end of the SEA Games campaign for Joshua as he also exited at the quarter-finals stage in the individual competition on Friday.

Joshua, who delivered silver and bronze in Philippines (2019) and in Hanoi (2021), is not likely to go for another SEA Games appearance in Thailand in two years.

But the chance to make his Paris Olympics dream come true is very much within his grasp.

“The Malaysian Fencing Federation have agreed to help support my aim to try for Olympic qualification,” he said.

“I will leave for the World Cup in Istanbul in two days time. The Olympic qualification has started this month and I will try to compete in as many international tournaments as I can to earn the ranking points.

“There is a chance to get in either through the world rankings or through the Asian qualification tournament next year.

“It’s my dream to go to the Olympics before I finish off my fencing career,” said Joshua, who is hoping to become only the third Malaysian fencer to compete at the Olympics after Yu Peng Kean (London 2012) and the late Ronnie Theseira (Tokyo 1964).