HK bring back four medals
Hong Kong competitors returned with a hatful of medals from the Asian Championships in Sabah, Malaysia, after winning two silvers and a couple of bronze medals in one of the SAR's most successful campaigns at the tourney.
Most impressive for Hong Kong was Nicola Lu Min, who took home silver in the men's individual epee in a remarkable performance that saw him lose to reigning Asian Games champion Sergey Shabalin of Kazakhstan 15-7 in the gold medal play-off.
Lu, a former Italian national fencer, who captured bronze in the World Cup in Legnano, Italy, in 2001, is a long-time Hong Kong resident, who has moved here permanently.
'I lost quite badly against Shabalin in the final [in Sabah] after trailing 4-5 in the first quarter. I eventually got cramps and lost. But I was only getting back into shape after a long lay-off,' said 27-year-old Lu, whose father is Italian and mother is Shanghainese.
Lu spent his childhood in Hong Kong before moving to Italy for training and then returning to the SAR last year. He has agreed to represent the SAR following a verbal agreement with the Hong Kong Amateur Fencing Association and has already enjoyed some success flying the bauhinia flag, winning gold at last year's Taipei Open.
'I am hoping to compete at the World Championships in Leipzig [Germany] in October and hopefully I can come away with some good results. Overall, Hong Kong did very well in Sabah and I think it's a record for us winning so many medals,' said Lu.
Hong Kong's other silver medal came in the women's sabre team competition through Chow Tsz-ki, Pau Ming-wai, Auyeung Wai-sum and Tsui Wan-yi. The SAR also won bronze in the men's sabre team thanks to Yuen Hou-in, Tse Yu-ming, Lam Hin-chung and Chow Chun-hei.
Another bronze medal was picked up in the women's epee team event through Cheung Yi-nei, Yeung Chui-ling, Cheng Yuk-han and Sabrina Lui Wai-yin.
