The Hong Kong fencing team won its first-ever National Games championship title on Wednesday night, after the men’s foil team defeated its Fujian rival in the finals at Kai Tak Arena.

Comprising Edgar Cheung Ka-long, Ryan Choi Chun-yin, Leung Chin-yu, and Lawrence Ng Lok-wang, the Hong Kong squad outperformed the Fujian team in a nine-section match, scoring 45-34.

The Fujian team included Xu Jie, the gold medalist of the 15th National Games’ men’s foil individual event; and Chen Haiwei, Chen Weiquan, and Huang Mengkai.

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Earlier in the day, Hong Kong fencers defeated Zhejiang 45-38 in the quarterfinals, and overcame Jiangsu 45-30 in the semifinals.

This historic triumph marked the fourth medal for the Hong Kong fencing team at this year’s National Games, following a silver in the men’s saber individual by Aaron Ho Sze-long; a bronze in the women’s epee individual by Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan; and a bronze by Cheung in the men’s foil individual competition.

To date, the Hong Kong delegation has pocketed 19 medals — nine golds, two silvers and eight bronzes — at the ongoing national sports meet.

The Hong Kong representatives have a remarkable track record. Choi won his first gold medal at the World Fencing Championships 2025 in Georgia, ranking first globally. Cheung, nicknamed “the fencing god” by many in Hong Kong, was the first Hong Kong athlete to secure two Olympic gold medals, as well as winning golds at the Asian Games, the Men’s Foil World Cup, and the Asian Fencing Championships.

After the final, fencers and coaches walked to the center of the venue to express their gratitude to the audience.

Cheung told reporters that the historic team win brought him greater joy than his individual success. He highlighted the unity among teammates and their enjoyment of the competitive environment.

He also voiced his hope that more fencing competitions will be hosted in Hong Kong.

Competing for the team in the final session, Choi said he felt the pressure but emphasized the team’s seamless communication in recent years, and standing alongside his teammates deeply moved him.

Acknowledging that the team’s performance hadn’t been ideal over the past two years, Choi said he hopes the historic victory will propel the team to scale new heights.

Leung, participating in the National Games for the first time, admitted that his performance in the individual event fell short of expectations, leaving him dissatisfied. He said that after reflection, he realized the importance of competing with greater boldness, and he credited the cheers from the audience and support from his teammates for boosting his confidence.

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Despite being held on a weekday, the ultimate showdown drew a large crowd, with foot traffic noticeably increasing after office hours.

Fiona Si, a primary-school teacher, brought around 20 students to watch the competition alongside her colleagues. She selected this event specifically because Cheung is the most renowned athlete among her students.

The students cheered passionately for the Hong Kong team, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Si described the competition as thrilling, recalling standout moments like the intense matchup between Cheung and his old rival Xu from the Fujian team. Watching the fencers step onto the podium brought excitement to both her and her students.

Gaby Lin contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com