Hong Kong’s Olympic champion fencer Cheung Ka-long told to target medals, not regaining No 1 spot
- The city’s second-ever Olympic gold medallist drops to No 6 in the world rankings, having been top of the pile earlier in the year
- Cheung suffered upset in season’s first World Cup, but can make amends in the second, in Tokyo, and in Hong Kong Open Championships
Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long should focus on podiums rather than rankings as he targets a fourth title at his domestic championships and a Tokyo World Cup medal in the next fortnight, his coach has said.
The city’s top foilist was on the wrong end of an upset at the season-opening World Cup in Germany this month, losing in the first round to unheralded South Korean Kim Gyeongmu, and fell four places to No 6 in the latest rankings.
He had already lost the top spot, to Tommaso Marini, after the season-ending World Championships in July, and the Italian held on to it in the latest list, followed by compatriot Alessio Foconi and France’s world champion Enzo Lefort. Hong Kong No 2 Ryan Choi Chun-yin fell one place to No 9 after finishing 11th at the World Cup in Bonn.
However, Hong Kong head coach Zheng Zhaokang said he was concerned primarily with winning medals.
“World ranking isn’t as important to us as medals – a world No 1 can be defeated in the first round,” Zheng said. “What exactly is the point? I will not put any pressure on them to be at the top of the rankings.”
“It’s very normal to have some upsets at the start of the season, especially since Ka-long was sick before Bonn and was unable to train for 10 days,” Zheng added.