FIE Incheon Grand Prix: Hong Kong’s Ryan Choi steals show after shock Cheung Ka-long exit

Choi takes his first ever grand prix silver medal, coming through succession of nail-biting encounters in South Korea

It gives Hong Kong something to cheer after Olympic champion Cheung is stunned by world No 92

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Ryan Choi (left) leaps during his semi-final against former world No 1 Alessio Foconi. Photo: FIE

Published: 8:30am, 16 May 2022

Hong Kong foilist Ryan Choi Chun-yin stole the show at fencing’s Incheon Grand Prix, reaching the final and knocking out the recently deposed world No 1 Alessio Foconi in the process.

Choi proved to be the master of tight finishes as he won three of his contests 15-14 on his way to setting up a final showdown with Tommaso Marini.

His knack deserted him against the Italian, who took the title by a point after Choi had recovered from 7-2 down to draw level at 14-14. It was nonetheless a first grand prix silver medal for world No 7 Choi.

But there was a shock first-round exit for Choi’s compatriot Cheung Ka-long, the Olympic champion who last month replaced Foconi at the top of the rankings. Cheung was surprisingly beaten 15-9 by outsider Meddy Elice of France, ranked 91 places below him.

Ryan Choi celebrates during his run to the final in South Korea. Photo: FIE

The exploits of Choi gave Hong Kong something to cheer, and the 24-year-old had to do it the hard way. He saw off Chung Jyae-gyu of South Korea 15-13 in the first round before surviving three more nail-biting encounters that he took by one-point margins.

Choi has an unusual stance that often wrong-foots his opponents, and he outwitted Guillaume Bianchi of Italy in the round of 32. Having trailed the Universiade team gold medallist 14-11, the Hongkonger held his nerve to progress 15-14.