Jose Faber Cabrera
Funding issues has knocked out two junior Cambodian talents from the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships in Jakarta, starting from 24–27 February.
The two fencers – Phat lykat and Men Monika – will now have to sit out of the as the sport’s leading young fencers take a critical step towards April’s global stage in Rio de Janeiro.
The duo have been training earnestly for the tournament since last year August immediately after the World University Games.
The Asian Junior Championships is one of the four continental tournaments taking place this month as part of the road to the Junior and Cadet World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in April.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for the Kingdom as upcoming fencer Jose Faber Cabrera will see action in Jakarta.
The nineteen-year-old is the sole Cambodian representative in Jakarta, competing in the Junior Men’s Épée category.
In November last year, Cabrera competed at the FIE Épée Junior World Cup Hong Kong held in Hong Kong. Competing against top junior fencers from around the world, the experience provided valuable international exposure and helped prepare him for major continental competitions including the upcoming Asian Championships.
The young fencer’s international appearances follow a series of impressive domestic results last season. Cabrera had captured the gold medal in Senior Men’s Épée at the 11th National Fencing
Championships.
He also earned the bronze medal in the Senior Men’s Épée event at the 4th Fencing Western Cup.
Cabrera balances his demanding training schedule with rigorous academic pursuits. He is currently studying accounting at CamEd Business School in Cambodia while also pursuing Industrial Engineering studies at the University of the Philippines.
His athletic development has been shaped as a member of the CamEd Fencing Club, Ultime Preolium Fencing Center, and the University of the Philippines Fencing Team.
While the Asian Championships starts next week, Africa’s best juniors met in Dakar, Senegal earlier this week.
Europe’s junior elite will gather in Tbilisi, Georgia (24–27 February 2026) —traditionally one of the deepest and most demanding events on the international calendar. With powerhouse nations throughout the field, podium places in Tbilisi will signal genuine medal potential heading into the World Championships.
The Pan American region will showcase its depth in Bogotá, Colombia (from 26 February 2026) at the Pan American Junior Championships, where athletes from across North, Central, and South America will compete for zonal titles and crucial momentum ahead of April.
For juniors, these events serve as a decisive benchmark—an opportunity to measure form, sharpen tactics, and build confidence before the Junior and Cadet World Championships.
