Fencers Ryan Choi and Albert Chien strike Asian team gold for Hong Kong
Ryan Choi and Albert Chien are part of the Asian team who win the mixed continental team event, beating a strong Europe side in the final
Hong Kong rejoiced in their first gold medal at a Youth Olympic Games yesterday after Ryan Choi Chun-yin and Albert Chien Kei-hsu joined four other Asian fencers to beat the Europeans in the mixed continental team event.
A day after Choi showed he was a force to be reckoned with by reaching the final of the individual foil where he was beaten by Andrzej Rzadkowski, the Hong Kong youngster gained sweet revenge on the Pole in the team event.
"Beating him is certainly a boost for me," Choi, 16, said. "He beat me in the individual but I know I am better than him. I couldn't prove it until today. With this victory, I am more confident for my future competitions."
Each team comprised six top fencers with one from each weapon in both genders. Choi and Chien formed the team "Asia-Oceania 1" with Karin Miyawaki (foil) and Misaki Emura (sabre) from Japan, and Kim Dong-ju (sabre) and Lee Sin-hee (epee) from South Korea.
The team beat "Europe 2" 30-29 in the semi-finals and then overcame "Europe 1" 30-26 for the gold medal.
In his leg of the team final - fencers were given three minutes on the piste - Choi defeated Rzadkowski 7-5, reversing his 17-15 loss in the individual the previous day.