Tokyo Olympics: golden boy Cheung Ka-long back in action to lead Hong Kong in team foil

Hong Kong meet the Russians in quarter-finals and victory will put them through to compete for another Olympic medal

‘Having Cheung will give us more confidence, but I don’t want him to get all the stress of the match,’ says coach Koenig

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Cheung Ka-long celebrates defeating Daniele Garozzo of Italy in the individual foil final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo: AP

Published: 7:03pm, 31 Jul 2021Updated: 10:47pm, 31 Jul 2021

Hong Kong’s golden boy, Edgar Cheung Ka-long, is back in action in Tokyo on Sunday, when he will lead the foil team in his quest for a second fencing medal at the Olympics.

Hong Kong will take on the Russian Olympic Committee in the quarter-finals at Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, and if they go through, they are likely to meet top seeds USA for a place in the final. The Americans, who have four fencers in the world’s top 10, should have little difficulty overcoming the winner between Canada and Germany in the only round of 16 match.

Cheung, who now boasts a career-high world ranking of four after his epic victory in the individual event on Monday, will be on the roster along with Ryan Choi Chun-yin, the world number 12, and veteran Cheung Siu-lun, the world number 55th, with Lawrence Ng Lok-wang as the reserve.

Coach Greg Koenig hugs Cheung Ka-long after his triumph in the men’s individual foil. Photo: Hong Kong Olympic Committee

The two sides have seldom met on the international stage, but Hong Kong will definitely be the team to watch after Cheung’s historic success in Tokyo.

“I would expect Hong Kong to defeat them, even if this has never happened before,” said coach Greg Koenig. “If Hong Kong fencers play at their usual level, we can do it.