EIGHT months after sustaining a left knee injury, Filipino fencer Sam Catantan has resumed competitive fencing and has not shown any discomfort on the surgically repaired left knee.

"No pain on the knee, although it's not 100 percent yet but I'm getting there," Catantan told The Manila Times in an exchange of messages on Thursday, February 22, after her training session at Penn State University.

"It's also about the mental aspect because I still have to get that confidence in my movements, particularly on my left knee. But like I've said, trying to get to that same level," she added.

Early this month, the 22-year-old Catantan made her highly anticipated return on the piste as a member of Penn State University fencing team, posting an overall 9-2 record in the Northwestern Duals in Evanston, Illinois.

She is also preparing for the regional qualifiers for this year's US NCAA Fencing Championship.

While competing in the regional tournament is a sure thing for the country's top foil fencer, qualifying in the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship next month is a bit tough.

"I'm not sure if I'll get enough points (to get to the main US NCAA)," said Catantan, who went under the knife last May to repair the torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) she suffered during the semifinal round of the Southeast Games in Colombia.

If she would skip this season's US NCAA tournament, she remains eligible to play for the school in her final year next season after she was accepted by Penn State to enroll for her master's degree in accounting.

While competing in the US NCAA Fencing Championship this year is doubtful, competing for the Philippines in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in April in Saudi Arabia is a big possibility.

"Looking forward to that event," said Catantan.

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