Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long shown red card, but teammate then wins first Asian title
Olympic champ in controversial loss to China’s Mo Ziwei, who then loses in final to Ryan Choi
Olympic champion Cheung Ka-long was denied the chance to reclaim his regional throne after a controversial decision at the Asian Fencing Championships in Bali on Thursday, but the glory went instead to compatriot Ryan Choi Chun-yin, who won his maiden Asian title.
In Cheung’s second-round men’s foil match, he was adjudged by the head referee from South Africa to have hit China’s Mo Ziwei in his head intentionally, after the red light on the piste signalling a point for the Hongkonger had been lit. The point would have tied the match at 14 points each.
But former Asian champion Mo fell onto the ground and asked for a video review, and suggested Cheung had hit him in his mask.
Mo, who won in Wuxi in 2023, called for medical help and minutes later, referee Eugene Chua Wee-hong of Singapore – after head referee Irina Knysch stepped in – showed two-time Asian champion Cheung a straight red card and awarded Mo the winning point, and the Chinese fencer progressed with a 15-13 win.
Cheung and Greg Koenig, head coach of the city’s foil team, debated with the referees for a long time, but their efforts were in vain.
Hong Kong team officials said the rule book signalled a red card if a fencer was deemed to have “intentionally” hit the opponent in the head.