Hong Kong fencer Kaylin Hsieh wins first silver at Asian Fencing Championships in India
Reigning men’s foil individual champion Ryan Choi fails to defend his title and exits in the quarter-finals, losing to winner Kyosuke Matsuyama
Hong Kong fencer Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan achieved her best result at the Asian Fencing Championships after winning the épée individual silver medal in India on Sunday.
Ranked No 17 in the world, Hsieh won all six of her pool stage bouts to reach the main draw, and received a bye to the second knockout round. From there, she beat Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman of Singapore and Lee Hye-in of South Korea to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Previously ranked No 4 in the world, the two-time Asian Championships bronze medallist edged past Tamaki Terayama of Japan 15-13 to reach the final for the first time.
In the final against Irina Bakaldina of Kazakhstan, who knocked out world No 3 Song Sera in the semi-finals, the 25-year-old Hongkonger was tied 3-3 after the first round, but she fell behind 8-3 in the third and final round.
Hsieh, who took bronze in Bangkok and Bali in 2018 and 2025, managed to claw it back to 12-10 with 22 seconds left on the clock, before losing 15-12 and settling for the silver medal.
Hsieh’s teammates all emerged from the pool stage and reached the knockout round, but Chan Wai-ling and Wu Haidi were ousted in the second round, while Moonie Chu Ka-mong lasted one more round, losing to Bakaldina in the third round.