Today, one 14-year-old Malaysian is steadily making a name for himself in the fencing scene.
Since taking up the sport at age 8, Saif Nordin has represented Malaysia and Selangor at numerous local and international tournaments, taking him from New Zealand to Singapore and Riyadh.
“My first international competition was the Singapore Satellite when I was 13 years old,” Saif told FMT Lifestyle.
“It was really exciting and definitely a bit nerve-wracking as it was an open-age category. So, I went up against some people who had been fencing longer than I’ve lived,” he added.
He may have finished 75th, but the experience was invaluable, fuelling his determination to improve. His hard work paid off when he returned to the same tournament last year and showed significant progress, finishing 27th out of 90 participants.
The teenager ended 2024 on a high note by winning a gold medal at the Asian Cadet Fencing Challenge in Hong Kong (under 14 foil category).
He then kicked off 2025 by clinching a bronze medal at the National Fencing Championships in Kuala Lumpur (junior foil category).
His impressive resume also includes his participation in Sukma, the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, Bangkok International Fencing Federation (FIE) Foil Junior World Cup, Asian Cadet Cup as well as the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships, among others.
Saif currently trains at Touche Fencing Club in Petaling Jaya, honing his skills under the expert guidance of head foil coach Andrew Mok, an FIE-accredited instructor. He is also mentored by Andrew’s father, former national fencer Mok Chek Wlong.
Recognising his potential, the Foundation for Malaysian Sporting Excellence (SportExcel) has tied-up with Saif. Since its establishment in 1991, the foundation has played an important role in supporting young athletes through financial backing and structured programmes.
Looking back, Saif shared that his passion for fencing was ignited at age seven after watching online videos. The following year, with encouragement from his mother, he joined a trial class at the Touche Fencing Club.
Saif found the experience fun and interesting, leading him to sign up for regular classes. From that point on, he has been unstoppable.
What makes a good fencer, he shared, is agility, good coordination and a strong determination to pursue a goal. “It’s like a chess game, but it’s more physical. I must think about how to defeat my opponent. If he likes doing a specific action, I need to counter it,” he said.
“Being involved in fencing has really boosted my confidence, my critical thinking skills and ability to make quick decisions,” he added.
Although fencing keeps him occupied, he maintains strong academic results at Sunway International School, where he is on a partial sports scholarship.
Fun facts about Saif: he speaks English, Mandarin, Malay and is even learning French! He is also signed with KICG Models.
Fencing is not the only sport he’s sharp in – he has earned medals for shot put and taekwondo at district, state and national level competitions. Outside of sports, he has a keen interest in science, mathematics and the natural world.
He also likes travelling and sampling good food during his travels. Hotpot, he said with a smile, is his favourite.
Next, Saif will be competing at the Asian Cadet & Junior Fencing Championships in Kuwait, the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Wuxi, China, and the Singapore Junior Nationals.
Looking further ahead, Saif hopes to make the country proud at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. “As a young fencer, I would say that working hard and being determined to achieve one’s goal is very important.”
He also draws inspiration from other athletes. “I once met Jeffrey Ong, an Olympic swimmer. He said, ‘As long as you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll excel and do well.’ I find that really powerful.”
Follow Saif Nordin’s journey on Instagram.