Cheung Ka-long bows out of Cairo World Cup as Hong Kong foil star vows to ‘work harder’ for world No 1 ranking

The 24-year-old eases through group stage but falls to eventual silver medallist Mylnikov, of Russia

‘I will work harder. Thanks to everyone for the support,’ Cheung writes as team event beckons

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Hong Kong team foil fencer Cheung Ka-long at the Hong Kong Open Fencing Championships at the AsiaWorld Expo. Photo: SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Published: 7:30pm, 27 Feb 2022

Hong Kong fencing king Cheung Ka-long’s campaign to reach the world’s No 1 ranking this year got off to a subdued start after bowing out of the FIE Cairo World Cup round of 32.

The 24-year-old Olympic champion, who won a historic individual foil gold at the World Cup in Paris last month, missed a quarter-final place after losing to Tokyo Games team foil silver medallist Vladislav Mylnikov, of Russia, 15-12 in Egypt.

No 1 seed Cheung was off to a great start, easing past American Daniel Zhang in the group game 15-6. But he became unstuck against world No 43 Mylnikov in the knockout rounds. The 21-year-old Mylnikov went on to win silver.

“I will work harder. Thanks to everyone for the support,” Cheung wrote on his Instagram, before sharing a photo of the Ukrainian team holding a sign that read “Stop Russia! Stop the war! Save Ukraine! Save Europe!”.

Hong Kong team foil fencer Lawrence Ng Lok-wang (right) against Alexander Kahl, of Germany, in the FIE World Cup round of 128 event in Egypt. Photo: FIE

Fellow local foilists Ryan Choi Chun-yin (world No 8), Yeung Chi-ka and Lawrence Ng Lok-wang fell in the round of 64 to South Korea’s Im Cheolwoo 15-11, Japan’s Toshiya Saito 15-9, and Tunisia’s Daniel Ashton, respectively.

Other men’s foilists – Cheung Siu-lun, Nicholas Edward Choi, Kyle Chan, Cheung Ngo-chun and Leung Chin-yu – will also be preparing for the team event on Sunday night.