Hong Kong fencer Nicholas Choi believes he is better than three years ago when he announced he was quitting the sport, only to change his mind and return to the piste this year. After coming out of retirement in April, the 28-year-old came third at a major local competition for the second week in a row, finishing behind winner Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long and Ryan Choi Chun-yin. Cheung beat fellow Olympian Ryan Choi 15-12 in the final of the Challenge Cup Championships at the Science Park in Pak Shek Kok on Sunday. Ryan Choi had earlier beaten Nicholas Choi in the semi-finals. With selection for the 2022 Asian Games fast approaching, Choi and three others are competing for a spot in the four-member men’s foil squad for the event in Hangzhou. “I think I’m pretty good, finishing third in two events in a row,” said Nicholas Choi, who won an individual silver at the 2018 Asian Games, the best performer of any Hong Kong fencer. “Actually, it was a bit funny competing today, as it was exactly the same day when I announced my retirement three years ago. “Life has changed a lot since then but I am happy I have made the decision to come back. We are now having a very strong foil team and training with these quality fencers day in and day out has also made a stronger athlete. In fact, I am pretty sure I am a better fencer than I won the Asian Games silver three years ago.” Top Hong Kong fencer Nicholas Choi retires at 25 Once the top fencer in Hong Kong, Choi now has to compete against upcoming Lawrence Ng Lok-wang, Yeung Chi-ka and veteran Cheung Siu-lun to book a place at next year’s Asian Games. The quartet, along with Edgar Cheung and Ryan Choi will be leaving for a long overseas training and competition stint until May next year. Head coach Zheng Kangzhao said the six athletes meant Hong Kong had the potential to send out its strongest foil team ever. “I am happy to see the keen competition among the team members which I believe it is healthy competition,” said the head coach. “Everyone has to work hard to obtain his place and for me it’s difficult to say who will be going to the Asian Games next year. They will all travel to overseas when the new season begins and in the end the best performed fencers will represent Hong Kong in the Asian Games. “This is a young squad, as the top two fencers Edgar Cheung and Ryan Choi are only 25 and they certainly have a very long career ahead of them. Not only the 2022 Asian Games, they are very competitive for the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles.” Cheung seals Hong Kong Open title in first event since Tokyo gold Cheung said he was ready for the new season after a knee problem kept him out of the National Games in September. “Our next target will definitely be the 2022 Asian Games as we have never won a gold medal in the regional multi-sport games,” he said. “We came close in the 2018 Jakarta Games when we lifted two silver medals and of course we want a better result in Hangzhou next year.”