Brazilian fencer rides raucous wave of home support to knock out Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long in last-16
HK’s Asian champion beaten in deafening conditions in men’s foil while China’s flagbearer and Olympic champion is stunned early
Hong Kong’s Edgar Cheung Ka-long might need a visit to the ear specialist after a deafening encounter against Brazil’s Guilherme Toldo saw his Olympic campaign in the men’s foil end in the last-16.
The Carioca Arena was literally shaking as home fans roared their approval for every touch of Toldo’s, booed every point scored by Cheung, and maintained an atmosphere more akin to a World Cup final than any early-round fencing bout.
HK won their first-ever Olympics fencing bout on day one courtesy of Vivian Kong Man-wai, and Cheung made it two in a row as day two began, comfortably beating Heo Jun of South Korea 15-8.
WATCH: Relive the action involving Hong Kong athletes on Day 2 at the Rio Olympics
Toldo had upset the top seed and world champion Yuki Ota of Japan in the first round. In any other location, he might have been the ideal opponent, but Cheung admitted he found it almost impossible to concentrate amid the maelstrom of noise. Toldo said he’d never experienced anything like it.
“A lot pressure, facing those fans,” said Cheung. “I really didn't fence well in the middle of the bout, when I had an 8-5 lead.”