Edgar Cheung Ka-long seals first grand prix silver medal in fine weekend for Hong Kong fencers

The former world junior champion achieves a best tour performance with a second place in the individual foil in Turin

Achievement comes just a day after Vivian Kong claims gold in the world cup series in Barcelona

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long (left) in the final against Race Imboden of the United States. Photos: FIE

Published: 1:17pm, 11 Feb 2019Updated: 10:24pm, 11 Feb 2019

Hong Kong fencers are on the right track for the 2020 Olympic Games as Edgar Cheung Ka-long claimed his first silver medal at grand prix level.

At the Turin event featuring more than 200 top fencers, the talented foilist made it all the way to the final, securing a 15-7 win over 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist Alexander Massialas of the United States in the last-eight, before he was beaten by world number one Race Imboden, also from the United States.

Cheung Ka-long (left) captures his first silver medal at a grand prix event.

“It’s just a start for us – for the entire Hong Kong foil team,” said world number eight Cheung after the final.”

His previous best result was a bronze medal in the 2017 world cup series in Cairo, Egypt.

“The 2020 Olympics qualification will begin in May and I will do my utmost to make it for Hong Kong,” Cheung added.

There are five world cup series and three grand prix events this season before the Asian and World Championships.

Cheung, 21, did not impress in the first three world cup series legs, finishing a disappointing 35th in the last leg in Tokyo in January.