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Mike Chan

A blend of experienced and younger fencers will headline the host teams as Hong Kong counts down towards hosting its first World Fencing Championships in the city in less than three weeks.
Veterans including men’s foilists Cheung Ka-long and Ryan Choi Chun-yin, men’s and women’s épéeists Cedric Ho Wai-hang and Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan, and men’s sabreist Aaron Ho Sze-long will spearhead their respective teams, with four young fencers making their World Championships debut on home soil.
While fencing head coach Zheng Kangzhao publicly backed the city’s men’s foil quartet as medal contenders – both as individuals and as a team – Cheung and Choi agreed, but for different reasons.
“We have been on the podium at the Asian and World Championships before, so our latest world ranking of No 3 represents a possibly easier route for us,” said two-time Olympic champion Cheung. “That was the reason we fought so hard to achieve this ranking. We know we are capable of winning medals as a team, so we’re confident.
“As for individual events, I want to play at a standard that reflects my usual training level in front of my family, friends and the citizens in Hong Kong. It’s not easy for us to host such championships, and I am not young any more, so I cherish this opportunity for sure.”

Reigning individual champion Choi, who is still nursing a left hamstring injury and is set to return to fencing training next week, admitted he hoped to win a medal again.
“I wouldn’t be thinking about defending my title because everything starts from scratch,” the world No 2 said. “I wouldn’t be thinking I must do something this year simply because of what I did last year. I am treating this as a normal competition, though the ultimate goal of every tournament is to finish first.
“As a team, we are happy with the rankings now, but we aren’t satisfied. We won’t be satisfied until we become the No 1 team. This is a long-term goal, of course, but there’s no pressure at all; it’s just a bigger goal.”
Among the 24 fencers donning the Hong Kong flag at the World Championships, men’s and women’s foilists Harris Ho Shing-him and Janelle Leung Ya-lei, as well as men’s and women’s sabreists Royce Chan Lok-hei and Lau Yee-ching, will be making their World Championships debuts in front of their family and friends.
“I want to reach the main draw, or the second day of the event at the very least,” said men’s foil individual cadet world champion Ho. “I think that would be good enough for me. I want to fence in front of many Hongkongers; that’s something I haven’t done before.
“I also believe it’s a good thing for me to compete in my first world championships in my hometown. My family always wanted to see me play, but those journeys and trips around the world were just too far away, and they could never make it, so I am happy that they can be a part of it this time.”
The 17-year-old added that he wanted to learn from his teammates during the team event.
“All of them would not be affected by their emotions on the piste; this is what I need to learn now,” said the world No 27, the third-highest ranked fencer in Hong Kong behind Choi and Cheung.
“I would be nervous about the overall score, or allow my emotions to take over if I lost a point or two, so I want to be like my teammates, and stay cool throughout my bouts.”
For women’s foilist Janelle Leung, competing in one of the biggest tournaments at home was about inheritance.

“I remembered Hong Kong hosted the Asian Championships in 2017; it was also held at AsiaWorld-Expo,” the 21-year-old said. “I was not selected for the national team back then and was just like an ordinary citizen and spectator.
“So watching on the stands those top-class fencers competing and rooting for my home team gave me strong motivation to climb the ranks and fight alongside my teammates.
“Here I am now, and I hope if there are some junior fencers watching us this time, they would have the same feeling and be inspired like I was.”
Tickets for the World Championships, which run at AsiaWorld-Expo from July 22 to 30, are available on the ticketing platform Klook, with prices ranging from HK$150 (US$19.12) to HK$1,500.


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Hong Kong's foilists (from left) Cheung Ka-long, Leung Chin-yu, Harris Ho and Ryan Choi. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s fencing team for the World Championships at AsiaWorld-Expo later this month. Photo: Elson Li

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Hong Kong fencer Ryan Choi (right) sustained a left hamstring injury at the Asian Fencing Championship in New Delhi this week. Photo: Fencing Association of Hong Kong, China

The Hong Kong team of Cheung Ka-long, Ryan Choi, Leung Chin-yu and Harris Ho. Photo: FAHKC

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First-time hosts will field a mix of veterans, world champions and debutants keen for rare chance of performing in front of family, friends


First-time hosts will field a mix of veterans, world champions and debutants keen for rare chance of performing in front of family, friends.


Cheung Ka-long

Ryan Choi Chun-yin

Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan

Klook

Hong Kong fencers looking forward to competing on home soil as World Championships loom

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}First-time hosts will field a mix of veterans, world champions and debutants keen for rare chance of performing in front of family, friends

First-time hosts will field a mix of veterans, world champions and debutants keen for rare chance of performing in front of family, friends