PARIS: The disappointment on Amita Berthier’s face was a testament to the 23-year-old fencer’s growth.
Despite facing an opponent more than 20 places higher in the world rankings, the Singaporean felt she could win — and she nearly did.
Bertier was narrowly defeated 13-15 by Lauren Scruggs, ranked 11th in the world in the women’s foil standings at 32nd place on Sunday (July 28), and was eliminated from the Paris Olympics.
“I’m disappointed with the loss overall. I wanted to win until the end today and I know I could have beaten anyone that was in front of me,” she told reporters.
“I was in good form, but I guess in the end it just didn’t work out.”
Bertier, ranked 35th in the world and competing in her second Olympic Games, put in a strong performance against the Americans at the Grand Palais.
She overcame an early four-point deficit to take a 12-9 lead before the score was tied at 13-13 and Scruggs went on to win and advance to the next round.
“Performance-wise, we did pretty well, we stuck to the plan that coach and I had laid out for us, but unfortunately we missed a couple of touches that could have given us the lead or maybe won the game there and then,” Bertier said.
The 23-year-old is a three-time SEA Games champion and in 2021 became the first Singaporean to win an NCAA fencing title when she won the team competition with her Notre Dame teammates.
At the last Olympics, Bertier was eliminated from the 32nd place ranking after losing 15-4 to Lee Kiefer. The American, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, ended up winning the gold medal.