Answer: competitor
Explanation: In the part where it says knowing that she would be a worthy oponment it makes it easier to cross off 2 words expert and defender becasue those obviously dont make sence for the anwser so that leaves the two in the mittle a particemant is where they just participante which is just playing but since they are going agenst each other they are competeing for 1st place so the anwser is compertitor