Mission accomplished: Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long wins Asian title after securing Olympic berth

Promising fencer Cheung Ka-long has vowed to keep his feet on the ground after becoming Asian champion at 18 and earning the right to represent Hong Kong at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Cheung returned from Wuxi, China on Sunday after his best week in fencing as he became the first-ever gold medallist from Hong Kong at the regional championships – less than two years after starting full-time training.

“I don’t know how to describe my feelings after such an wonderful week,” said the young fencer who won the individual foil event in China – en route defeating a world champion, an Olympic gold medallist and one junior world champion. “I am just like over the moon and still wonder if it is true.

“I have asked my teammates how long they spent in fencing before winning an [individual] Asian Championships medal and it is only Cheung Siu-lun who has won a bronze medal in the current team and he has been there almost 10 years.

“It’s something I could never imagine before I left [for China]. But I know clearly this is just the beginning as there are many things I need to learn as a fencer in the senior category.

“I need to improve my speed, my skills and my power especially against Western fencers if I want to stay competitive in the sport at the highest level.”

Cheung’s glorious week started with the zonal qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Games when the world number 24 secured the only berth in his event after cruising to a 15-4 victory over Ou Feng-ming, of Taiwan, in the final.