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Hong Kong fencers book historic appearance at Tokyo Olympics after brilliant performance in Cairo World Cup

South China Morning Post

發布於 2020年02月24日09:02 • Chan Kin-wa kinwa.chan@scmp.com
  • Hong Kong beat regional rivals South Korea in quarter-finals before snatching bronze in Cairo with a thrilling 45-44 win over world No 2 France
  • Hong Kong has never been represented by a fencing team at Olympics, since first sending two fencers to compete in individual events at 1972 Munich Games
A moment of joy in Cairo. From left: Ryan Choi, Cheung Siu-lun, Cheung Ka-long and Lawrence Ng. Photo: FIE
A moment of joy in Cairo. From left: Ryan Choi, Cheung Siu-lun, Cheung Ka-long and Lawrence Ng. Photo: FIE

Hong Kong men's foil team booked a historic appearance at the Olympics after finishing third in the Cairo leg of the World Cup series on Sunday, the last round of team qualification for Tokyo 2020.

Having defeated regional arch-rivals South Korea 45-35 in the quarter-finals, Hong Kong ensured they would be one of the eight teams at the Olympic Games this summer. They were outplayed by the top-ranked US team in the semi-finals, losing 45-37, but produced an amazing effort in beating France 45-44 in a thrilling play-off for the bronze medal.

"It has been a long journey since qualification began last year and the Olympic berth is always so close," said Ryan Choi Chun-yin, one of the quartet also consisting of Cheung Ka-long, Cheung Siu-lun and Lawrence Ng Lok-wang. "But it was never a done deal until we finally grabbed it in the last qualification round. It's a big relief for all of us and the back room staff as we can now look forward to Tokyo and some even stronger performances."

Hong Kong team at the medal ceremony in Cairo. Photo: FIE
Hong Kong team at the medal ceremony in Cairo. Photo: FIE

With a team place secured, Hong Kong can also send three fencers to the individual foil event.

Hong Kong was first represented in fencing at the 1972 Munich Games in two individual events and it will be the first time they have sent a team to the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.

Hong Kong fencing team one step from making historic Olympic appearance

Hong Kong took a silver medal in the opening round of qualification in St Petersburg last April, which was also their best result, and have since been in a strong position since. They were in fourth position in the standings before the final round, leading South Korea by two points.

Although Russia upset the odds by reaching the final in Cairo before losing to the US and taking fourth spot from the sixth position, Hong Kong still qualified as the top team from Asia and Oceania in positions 5th"16th. The Koreans, a traditional Asian powerhouse, lost the spot to Hong Kong and can only send a maximum one fencer in the individual event.

Cheung Ka-long (left) in the bronze medal match victory over France. Photo: FIE
Cheung Ka-long (left) in the bronze medal match victory over France. Photo: FIE

Head coach at the Sports Institute, Zheng Zhaokang, who urged his charges to keep their nerve in Cairo, was delighted with their performance, praising the determination of the squad. "If we had lost to South Korea, all effort over the past year would have been in vain. (I'm) so happy to see the boys hang in there and put icing on the cake with a bronze medal by defeating world No 2 France," said the coach.

Tokyo Olympics qualification on the cards for Hong Kong fencers as World Cup begins

The team will fly directly to California from Cairo for a training camp and the Grand Prix in Anaheim in mid-March to avoid problems arising from the coronavirus in Hong Kong. "We will monitor the situation closely after we finish the event in the United States and will then decide if the team will come back to Hong Kong first or to another place," Zheng said.

Head coach Zheng Zhaokang praised the determination of his charges
Head coach Zheng Zhaokang praised the determination of his charges

Hong Kong will have another chance to qualify a fencing team for the Tokyo Games in the women's epee World Cup leg in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 22. Headed by leading fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai, Hong Kong sit in 14th place in qualifying before the final round, but if South Korea, currently sixth, can squeeze into the top four with a remarkable finish in Tashkent, Hong Kong can qualify as the best team from Asia and Oceania in positions 5th-16th, although there is only a slim chance of that outcome.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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