Hong Kong star Ryan Choi faces race to be fit in time for World Fencing Championships
Head coach Greg Koenig also says ‘nothing has changed’ in quest to improve world ranking and qualify for Olympics after silver medal in India
Hong Kong fencing coach Greg Koenig has revealed that Ryan Choi Chun-yin faces a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury ahead of next month’s World Fencing Championships on home soil.
The world No 2 was suffering from a left hamstring injury at the Asian Fencing Championship in New Delhi, where Hong Kong’s men’s team finished runners-up after losing 45-39 to Japan in the final on Wednesday.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post, head coach Koenig admitted he had mixed feelings about the team’s results at the event, but was adamant that “nothing has changed” in terms of trying to achieve a better world ranking, with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics.
“It’s frustrating because I genuinely believe we had what it takes to win the gold,” the 47-year-old Frenchman said.
“However, considering the circumstances – Ryan was injured and Harris [Ho Shing-him] suffering from food poisoning – I’m extremely proud of this amazing team, including Lam Ho-long, who played an important role and supported the team throughout the competition,” Koenig said.
The team are returning home after the six-day tournament in India, and Koenig said they would work on Choi’s injury to ensure the 28-year-old left-hander would be fully fit ahead of the world championships at AsiaWorld-Expo from July 22 to 30.