Amita Berthier Explained

Amita Marie Nicolette Berthier OLY (born 15 December 2000) is a Singaporean, left-handed foil fencer. She attended the University of Notre Dame from 2018 to 2023, clinching 4 individual NCAA Fencing Championships medals.^[1] Representing Singapore, Berthier has won 3 SEA Games gold medals and qualified for 2 Olympic Games.

On 16 December 2017, Berthier became the first Singaporean fencer to win a Junior World Cup title at the Havana leg in Cuba in the eight-leg series.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Career

In April 2021, Berthier qualified for the Singapore Olympic team at the 2020 Summer Olympics, by winning the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In doing so, she became the first Singaporean to secure an Olympic spot through a qualifying tournament.^[5] Berthier was knocked out in her debut match in the round of 32 by United States' Lee Kiefer.^[6]

In 2023, Berthier won a joint-bronze in the women’s foil at the 2023 Asian Fencing Championships held in Wuxi, China. She was then chosen alongside wushu athlete Jowen Lim as the flagbearers for the 2022 Asian Games held at Hangzhou, China in 2023.^[7] Berthier was eliminated in the women’s individual foil quarter-finals.^[8]

Paris 2024

On 17 March 2024, Berthier qualified for the Paris Olympics via her individual ranking points. Ranked 28th in the world in the women’s foil, she claimed points at the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Grand Prix in Washington DC by finishing joint-20th.^[9]

Berthier returned to Singapore to train with national foil head coach Oleg Matseichuk as her coach.^[10] She parted ways with her previous coach Amgad Khazbak also worked with Kiefer and was unable to be with Berthier during tournaments and the Olympics Games due to conflict of interest.

Berthier will be training with the Singapore national team's foil head coach, Oleg Matseichuk, for 3 months as part of her preparations for the Paris Olympics.^[11] Berthier was again eliminated in the round of 32 after a 13-15 loss to world number 11, United States' Lauren Scruggs.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018-11-13 . Amita Berthier . 2024-03-19 . Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website . en-US.
2. Web site: Say Heng. Lim. Fencing: Maiden Junior World Cup title brings birthday delight for Amita Berthier. The Straits Times. 18 December 2017. 18 December 2017.
3. Web site: Say Heng. Lim. Fencing: Amita Berthier wins foil title at Junior World Cup in Cuba, eyes Asian Games spot in 2018. The Straits Times. 18 December 2017. 17 December 2017.
4. Web site: Say Heng. Lim. Singaporean teen fencer marks birthday with historic title. The New Paper. 18 December 2017. 18 December 2017.
5. Web site: Fencing: Amita Berthier books Tokyo Olympics ticket after tense final in qualifying tournament. 25 April 2021.
6. News: Ang . Ervin . 2023-03-28 . S’pore fencer Berthier to train full-time ahead of Asian Games, Olympics . 2024-03-19 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
7. Web site: 6 August 2023 . WEEKLY ROUND-UP: Sports happenings in Singapore (31 Jul-6 Aug) . 21 September 2023 . Yahoo News . en-SG.
8. Web site: Singapore fencer Amita Berthier narrowly misses out on Asian Games medal . 2024-03-19 . CNA . en.
9. News: Teoh . Melvyn . 2024-03-18 . Singaporean fencer Amita Berthier qualifies for Paris Olympics . 2024-03-19 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
10. News: Kwek . Kimberly . 2024-04-04 . A Parisian family affair for Singaporean fencer Amita Berthier at 2024 Olympics . 2024-04-15 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
11. Web site: Singapore fencer Amita Berthier not going to Paris Olympics to make up the numbers . 2024-04-15 . CNA . en.
12. Web site: Amita Berthier exits Paris Olympics after narrow loss to world number 11 Lauren Scruggs . 2024-07-28 . CNA . en.