HK men's foil team finish Asian Championship with the best result ever
Hong Kong’s men foil fencing team has snatched a bronze medal to end their journey in this year’s Asian Fencing Championships in Seoul after losing by three points to the Korean team in the semifinals.
This would be the best result for the men’s foil fencing team for bagging a gold and two bronze medals in the individual and team events.
After eliminating Australia 45-35 in the quarterfinals, the Hong Kong team, consisting of World No 1 Edgar Cheung Ka-long, Choi, Lawrence Ng Lok-wang and Yeung Chi-ka, was trailing 24-32 in the seventh round against Korea.
Choi, who just snatched bronze in the earlier individual event, then went on a 14-8 run in the eight round to close the deficit to only two at the end of the penultimate round, with the score at 38-40.
Cheung, who was crowned champion in the individual event, successfully tied the game at 42-42, but was unable to capitalize on the momentum, and lost the bout by merely three points 42-45.
The team then cruised past Chinese Taipei 45-30 in the ranking bout to finish in third.
Team coach Gregory Koenig said his hope for the team to snatch both gold medals in the individual and team events was dashed, but he still feels happy for the team.
“I am expecting a better performance for the team, but a medal is a medal, I am still happy for the fencers,” Koenig said. He is expecting at least two medals in the World Fencing Championships to start on July 15 in Cairo, Egypt, one from the individual event and one from the team event.
Separately, the Hong Kong football team saw nine more players and three staffers infected with Covid on their way back from India, after the team qualified for the Asian Cup finals for the first time in 54 years, and the team is currently under isolation in Thailand.
After eliminating Australia 45-35 in the quarterfinals, the Hong Kong team, consisting of World No 1 Edgar Cheung Ka-long, Choi, Lawrence Ng Lok-wang and Yeung Chi-ka, was trailing 24-32 in the seventh round against Korea.
Choi, who just snatched bronze in the earlier individual event, then went on a 14-8 run in the eight round to close the deficit to only two at the end of the penultimate round, with the score at 38-40.
Cheung, who was crowned champion in the individual event, successfully tied the game at 42-42, but was unable to capitalize on the momentum, and lost the bout by merely three points 42-45.
The team then cruised past Chinese Taipei 45-30 in the ranking bout to finish in third.
Team coach Gregory Koenig said his hope for the team to snatch both gold medals in the individual and team events was dashed, but he still feels happy for the team.
“I am expecting a better performance for the team, but a medal is a medal, I am still happy for the fencers,” Koenig said. He is expecting at least two medals in the World Fencing Championships to start on July 15 in Cairo, Egypt, one from the individual event and one from the team event.
Separately, the Hong Kong football team saw nine more players and three staffers infected with Covid on their way back from India, after the team qualified for the Asian Cup finals for the first time in 54 years, and the team is currently under isolation in Thailand.