Veterans, rookies chase Asian Games fencing glory

The Hong Kong fencing delegation will send a varied squad of veteran fencers and promising newcomers to the Asian Games in Nagoya, with the goal of matching or exceeding their medal count from the last edition. The team of 24 athletes will compete in individual and team events across all three fencing disciplines. Head coach Zheng Kangzhao revealed that this year's roster is a blend of experienced veterans and debutants who have quickly risen to compete on par with or even surpass their more seasoned teammates.

Zheng highlighted that the team's strength is now more evenly distributed, with no significant disparity in ability levels among the six team events. Each of the four-member lineups boasts skilled athletes with a strong competitive edge, indicating that the team's standard has not only matched but potentially surpassed that of the previous Asian Games.

The previous Games in Hangzhou saw the fencing team clinch one gold, one silver, and seven bronze medals, and Zheng hopes the squad will at least equal that tally while striving for personal bests and achieving a significant breakthrough. Among the standout performers is foil team member Edgar Cheung, who is defending his Asian Games individual foil championship title.

Cheung, making his fourth appearance for the SAR, emphasized the importance of maintaining a calm mindset and focusing on his own performance rather than dwelling on title defense. He acknowledged the maturity that comes with age and experience, suggesting it may influence his approach to the competition. Cheung also identified his teammate Ryan Choi and top-ranked Japanese fencer as his main rivals.

Younger competitor 17-year-old Ho, competing in his Asian Games debut, aims to match his performance from the World Championships and targets a team gold medal. Sabre event debutant Leung expressed enthusiasm about sharing his first Games experience with his older brother, who competes in the sabre discipline. For Leung, simply competing in a major multi-sport event together represents a significant achievement.