Hong Kong Makes History with Silver at Fencing World Championships
HONG KONG — The Hong Kong men’s foil team secured a historic silver medal at the 2026 World Fencing Championships on 28 July, marking the territory’s best-ever result in a team event at the tournament. Competing at the AsiaWorld-Expo in front of a home crowd, the quartet of Ryan Choi, Cheung Ka-long, Harris Ho, and Leung Chin-yu fell just one point short of gold, losing a dramatic sudden-death final 45-44 to world number one Italy.
According to China Daily Asia, the silver medal surpasses Hong Kong’s previous best of bronze in the same event at the 2023 World Fencing Championships, underscoring the rapid rise of the territory’s fencing program on the global stage.
Championships in Hong Kong for the First Time
The 2026 World Fencing Championships, running from 22 to 30 July, represent the first time Hong Kong has hosted the prestigious international event. As documented on Wikipedia, the championships feature 12 events across men’s and women’s foil, épée, and sabre, drawing over 1,400 athletes from 113 nations.
For Hong Kong, hosting the event is a significant milestone, demonstrating its capacity to organize major international sporting competitions and raising the profile of fencing within the territory.
A Dramatic Path to the Final
Hong Kong’s road to the gold medal match was impressive. The team defeated Macau, Belgium, Hungary, and the United States en route to the final, showcasing depth and resilience against increasingly tough opposition. In the gold medal match, Hong Kong faced Italy — the reigning Olympic silver medalists in men’s team foil and the world’s top-ranked nation in the discipline.
The Hong Kong team started strongly, building a commanding 38-30 lead at one point during the bout. However, Italy’s Tommaso Marini and Guillaume Bianchi mounted a determined comeback, gradually chipping away at the deficit before tying the score. With the match hanging in the balance at 44-44, Italian star Bianchi held his nerve to land the decisive touch, ending the contest at 45-44.
Despite the narrow defeat, the performance confirmed that Hong Kong can compete at the very highest level of international fencing, matching the world’s best blow for blow in a tense, high-stakes final.
Government Congratulates the Team
Following the match, Hong Kong Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui extended her congratulations to the team. As reported by China Daily Asia, Law praised the athletes’ resilience and sportsmanship.
“The team comprising Ryan Choi, Cheung Ka-long, Harris Ho, and Leung Chin-yu demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the competition, showcasing Hong Kong athletes’ charm and perseverance,” Law said in a statement. “I am proud that they have made history by winning Hong Kong’s first-ever team silver medal in the Fencing World Championships.”
Law also encouraged the team to build on this success at the upcoming 20th Asian Games in September 2026, expressing hope that they will “continue to strive for excellence and achieve greater success.”
Broader Significance for Hong Kong Fencing
The silver medal places Hong Kong 13th in the overall medal table at the championships, tied with Estonia with one silver each. Italy leads the table with three gold and four silver medals, while China sits 10th with one silver and one bronze. Japan has collected four bronze medals, the most of any nation without a gold or silver.
Cheung Ka-long, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in individual foil (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), brought invaluable big-match experience to the team. Ryan Choi’s composure in tying the score at 44-44 during the final demonstrated the growing depth of talent in Hong Kong’s fencing program.
Looking Ahead
With the 20th Asian Games scheduled for September 2026, Hong Kong’s fencing team enters the regional competition with significant momentum. The silver medal not only boosts the athletes’ confidence but also signals to competitors across Asia that Hong Kong is a force to be reckoned with in foil fencing.
For Hong Kong more broadly, successfully hosting the World Fencing Championships while achieving its best-ever team result reinforces the city’s ambition to position itself as a premier destination for international sports events. The combination of world-class facilities, enthusiastic home support, and athletic excellence suggests that fencing in Hong Kong has entered a golden era.