Ryan Choi becomes Hong Kong’s first fencing world champion, targets further glory
Feat hailed by Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, who voices hope for spectacular showing at National Games
Ryan Choi Chun-yin’s achievement in becoming Hong Kong’s first fencing world champion can be a springboard to yet more glory for the city’s increasingly successful squad, his head coach has said.
Choi, 27, accomplished a feat that has proved beyond even the city’s Olympic champions Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai when he won the men’s individual foil title at the FIE Fencing World Championships in Tbilisi late on Wednesday.
It propelled him above Cheung to claim the world No 1 ranking, and left Hong Kong’s foil team head coach Greg Koenig setting out plans for Choi to medal again at global level and shine at November’s National Games.
“I can’t express how proud I am,” Koenig said of the set-up’s latest triumph.
“Short-term goals are to medal again in the World Championships and a gold medal in the Asian Championships. Long-term goals are to qualify the team to the Olympics in Los Angeles, and medals there individually and by team.”