Grade Form Five

Sport Fencing (sabre)

Achievements Yi-tak, 17, won three medals at the Asian Junior & Cadet Fencing Championships held in Kazakhstan in July. She clinched a silver medal in the women's sabre cadet, a bronze (sabre junior) and a silver (sabre team).

She also won the Junior Fencing Championships in 2006 (under-17 girls' sabre) and the Beginners' Fencing Championships (girls' sabre).

Soundbite 'I took up fencing three years ago. My school recommended me for the HKSI's [Hong Kong Sports Institute] Searching for New Sport Stars programme,' said Yi-tak.

'I find fencing not only a kind of fighting technique but also an art form. I fell in love with the sport instantly. Pace and timing are essential when you launch an attack on your opponent. This is what I enjoy most about fencing: scoring points off my opponent.

'I usually practise six days a week. I enjoy training. I'm exhausted every time I finish training, but I insist on going every time. 'My most memorable competition was two years ago when I represented Hong Kong in an international event for the first time.

'My idol is Hong Kong sabre team member Chow Tsz-ki, who won two bronze medals at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. She is tough and hard working.'

From her coach 'Yi-tak does not have any special physical advantages in the sport, but she never gives up,' said coach Wang Rui-ji.

'She stays focused during training. She has been successful because of her hard work.'

Ambitions 'My target is to reach the semi-finals of the forthcoming World Junior Championships,' said Yi-tak. 'In the long run, I would like to win everything in Asia and be a world-class fencer.'