Going ‘Ale’ The Way, One Checklist at a Time
Student Feature: Esther Tan
For Esther Tan, the journey into fencing did not begin with medals or big dreams. It began quietly, almost casually, with a simple goal to exercise and get fitter. Yet somewhere between learning how to parry, attack and counter, something clicked. The Balestier Hill Primary School alumna took up the Learn-To-Fence programme at Singapore Sports School when she was 12 years old, and from there, she wanted to go ‘Ale’ the way.
“As I learned more about how fencing works, it sparked a curiosity in me of how I could use the sword to attack, defend, and execute different skills,” she shared. That curiosity soon became fascination, and fascination turned into commitment.
Unlike many sports, fencing rewards thinking as much as speed. That suited Esther just fine. A self-confessed big thinker, she found joy in reading opponents, solving problems in real time, and constantly adapting. “Figuring out what your opponent is going to do and how you’re going to counter it makes fencing fun and interesting for me,” she said. It was a sport that felt like home.
By Secondary 3, Esther was emerging as a strong contender on the piste. Convincing performances at Cadet U17 and Junior U20 local competitions, along with opportunities to represent Singapore overseas, opened her eyes to what was possible. Medals followed, but more importantly, so did clarity. “That’s when I realised how passionate I am about fencing, and how much I genuinely love the sport.”
In 2025, Esther walked into the FIE Junior World Cup in Bahrain carrying quiet hope but no expectations. No Singapore women’s epee fencer had ever medalled there. She did not think she would be the first. What she carried instead were her parents’ words. “They told me, ‘Today is your day’,” she recalled. At first, she did not fully believe it. But round by round, bout by bout, the idea began to feel real. “It felt like a dream. I was so focused and just going with the flow.” That flow ended with history being made when Esther won the bronze medal, making her the first current student-athlete to win a medal at the Junior World Cup.
Behind that moment, however, were months of unseen grind. School days that rolled straight into training nights. Extra runs, weight sessions, solo drills. “I remember always being the last one to leave the fencing hall,” she said. Time with friends was traded for time on the piste. Social media only ever showed the tip of the iceberg.
This year, Esther made her SEA Games debut in Thailand. Nothing, she admitted, could have prepared her for the home crowd, the pressure, and the stakes. “It was really stressful fencing in the finals,” she said. But in the chaos, she leaned on trust - trust in training, trust in herself and trust in her teammates. That trust paid off with gold in the Women’s Epee Team event.
“It reminded us of how important team chemistry is,” Esther reflected. Beyond skill, it was support, belief and unity that carried them through.
Her sporting milestones unfolded during her International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) exam year.
There were days when the pressure of training and academics felt too much. What helped was structure, clear timetables and clear boundaries. “During school hours, I give my 100% attention to class. During training, I put aside academic stress.” Every evening, Esther writes a checklist for the next day. It is a simple habit, but a powerful one. “Writing my plans helps me mentally prepare and keeps me motivated,” she said. It turns overwhelming tasks into manageable steps.
And when things became too heavy, she leaned on her friend, family, coaches and teachers. “It made things feel less overwhelming.”
Success today looks different from when Esther first started fencing. Back then, qualifying for the SEA Games felt like the ultimate dream. Now, success is broader and deeper. It is about doing things that bring fulfilment, studying subjects she enjoys, becoming a better fencer, and chasing the long-term goal of becoming an Olympian.
To young student-athletes who feel torn between sport and studies, her message is calm and firm. “You just need the determination to push through tough days.” And if she could speak to the younger girl who picked up a fencing sword just to get fit? She would smile and say, “You won’t believe how far you’ll go.”
For Esther Tan, the journey into fencing did not begin with medals or big dreams. It began quietly, almost casually, with a simple goal to exercise and get fitter. Yet somewhere between learning how to parry, attack and counter, something clicked. The Balestier Hill Primary School alumna took up the Learn-To-Fence programme at Singapore Sports School when she was 12 years old, and from there, she wanted to go ‘Ale’ the way.
“As I learned more about how fencing works, it sparked a curiosity in me of how I could use the sword to attack, defend, and execute different skills,” she shared. That curiosity soon became fascination, and fascination turned into commitment.
Unlike many sports, fencing rewards thinking as much as speed. That suited Esther just fine. A self-confessed big thinker, she found joy in reading opponents, solving problems in real time, and constantly adapting. “Figuring out what your opponent is going to do and how you’re going to counter it makes fencing fun and interesting for me,” she said. It was a sport that felt like home.
By Secondary 3, Esther was emerging as a strong contender on the piste. Convincing performances at Cadet U17 and Junior U20 local competitions, along with opportunities to represent Singapore overseas, opened her eyes to what was possible. Medals followed, but more importantly, so did clarity. “That’s when I realised how passionate I am about fencing, and how much I genuinely love the sport.”
In 2025, Esther walked into the FIE Junior World Cup in Bahrain carrying quiet hope but no expectations. No Singapore women’s epee fencer had ever medalled there. She did not think she would be the first. What she carried instead were her parents’ words. “They told me, ‘Today is your day’,” she recalled. At first, she did not fully believe it. But round by round, bout by bout, the idea began to feel real. “It felt like a dream. I was so focused and just going with the flow.” That flow ended with history being made when Esther won the bronze medal, making her the first current student-athlete to win a medal at the Junior World Cup.
Behind that moment, however, were months of unseen grind. School days that rolled straight into training nights. Extra runs, weight sessions, solo drills. “I remember always being the last one to leave the fencing hall,” she said. Time with friends was traded for time on the piste. Social media only ever showed the tip of the iceberg.
This year, Esther made her SEA Games debut in Thailand. Nothing, she admitted, could have prepared her for the home crowd, the pressure, and the stakes. “It was really stressful fencing in the finals,” she said. But in the chaos, she leaned on trust - trust in training, trust in herself and trust in her teammates. That trust paid off with gold in the Women’s Epee Team event.
“It reminded us of how important team chemistry is,” Esther reflected. Beyond skill, it was support, belief and unity that carried them through.
Her sporting milestones unfolded during her International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) exam year.
There were days when the pressure of training and academics felt too much. What helped was structure, clear timetables and clear boundaries. “During school hours, I give my 100% attention to class. During training, I put aside academic stress.” Every evening, Esther writes a checklist for the next day. It is a simple habit, but a powerful one. “Writing my plans helps me mentally prepare and keeps me motivated,” she said. It turns overwhelming tasks into manageable steps.
And when things became too heavy, she leaned on her friend, family, coaches and teachers. “It made things feel less overwhelming.”
Success today looks different from when Esther first started fencing. Back then, qualifying for the SEA Games felt like the ultimate dream. Now, success is broader and deeper. It is about doing things that bring fulfilment, studying subjects she enjoys, becoming a better fencer, and chasing the long-term goal of becoming an Olympian.
To young student-athletes who feel torn between sport and studies, her message is calm and firm. “You just need the determination to push through tough days.” And if she could speak to the younger girl who picked up a fencing sword just to get fit? She would smile and say, “You won’t believe how far you’ll go.”
- Going ‘Ale’ The Way, One Checklist at a Time