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Mike Chan

Hong Kong’s foil fencers need to “fix something” and Cheung Ka-long’s return to his Olympic-winning form could take time, coach Greg Koenig has admitted after a disappointing team display at the World Cup in Japan.
Koenig, who as foil head coach oversaw Hong Kong’s team gold medal at the National Games at Kai Tak Arena last month, said he was surprised his foilists fell at the first hurdle in the World Cup’s team competition in Fukuoka on Sunday.
And he admitted his squad will pay the price during qualifying for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles if results do not improve.
“Yes, it’s a huge surprise,” Koenig said on Monday, after a team including two-time Olympic champion Cheung and reigning world champion Ryan Choi Chun-yin were beaten 45-44 by Canada in their opening contest, following a first-round bye. Hong Kong are ranked sixth to Canada’s 11th.

“Unfortunately, our team’s mind was still on the National Games,” Koenig said. “We prepared a lot mentally for it, so it’s very hard to keep consistency when competitions are very close.”
Choi won individual gold in Fukuoka on Saturday, but Frenchman Koenig said he needed to “fix something” with his team for the coming tournaments, with the next one being the World Cup in Paris early next month.
One of the issues would be managing Cheung, languishing at No 13 in the world rankings, having been No 1 after his second Olympic gold last year. Choi is now top of the pile.
“Ryan Choi was tired of the individual events, which is understandable, but he doesn’t need a break,” Koenig said. “Ka-long was not in perfect shape yet. He will come back, but it’s going to be a long-term process.”
Following the surprising loss to Canada, Hong Kong fencers recorded back-to-back wins over Poland and Belgium to finish 13th among 24 teams.
Koenig said the consequences of such results could be limited, but only for so long.
“As we didn’t perform well last year as a team, it won’t change a lot in the rankings,” the 47-year-old said. “But let’s just say we used our joker and we need to perform better in every next competition.
“It’s a two-year process, and we need to have the best position possible in September 2027 to start the Olympic qualification … we’ll then be having easier matches at the beginning of every World Cup.”
Koenig also took time to heap praise on the two teenagers who completed the line-up in Fukuoka, Lam Ho-long, 18, and 16-year-old Harris Ho Shing-him.
“The youngsters, both of them, did a great job – they took this competition to have more experience,” the foil head coach said. “It also takes time [to nurture them], but I’m confident in the future; they have huge potential.
“The decision was to let them gain some international exposure ... That’s why it’s important to be positive and confident for the next events.”


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Reviving the fortunes of Cheung Ka-long will be ‘long-term process’, coach Koenig says after disappointing World Cup for foil team


Reviving the fortunes of Cheung Ka-long will be ‘long-term process’, coach Koenig says after disappointing World Cup for foil team.


Cheung Ka-long

Ryan Choi Chun-yin

Greg Koenig

Hong Kong fencers must ‘fix something’ to get 2028 Olympic ambition back on track

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Reviving the fortunes of Cheung Ka-long will be ‘long-term process’, coach Koenig says after disappointing World Cup for foil team

Reviving the fortunes of Cheung Ka-long will be ‘long-term process’, coach Koenig says after disappointing World Cup for foil team