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Fencing heroes miss out on red carpet welcome

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The gold medallists at the Paralympics have little chance of a red carpet reception like the one for Lee Lai-shan.

Wheelchair fencer Ben Cheung Wai-leung, 36, made history when he won the territory's first fencing gold in Atlanta on Sunday. Yesterday, he, Raymond Chan Sze-kit, Albert Chan Kam-loi and Eric Kwong Wai-ip won the team foil title.

But while Lee has been inundated with commercial offers since her historic wind surfing triumph at last month's Olympics, it is a different story for the territory's latest gold medallists.

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No companies have telephoned to offer sponsorship and no special arrangements are being considered by the Government for any VIP-grade reception.

A government spokesman said officials were not considering any special ways to receive the fencers.

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'It's different, and it's not a breakthrough [in the same sense]. We'll have to see when it's near the time [of their return],' she said.

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