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South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long shown red card, but teammate then wins first Asian title
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. Advertisement 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. Cheung Ka-long reposted a story from a supporter onto his social media after the loss. Photo: Instagram 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.
South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long ‘committed' to Olympic defence in 2028, coach says
The mastermind behind Cheung Ka-long's two Olympic gold medals has backed the Hong Kong fencer to stay at the top long enough to defend his foil title at the Los Angeles Games in three years' time. Advertisement Greg Koenig, head coach of the city's foil team, said that 'unless something unexpected happens' Cheung was 'committed to the [next Olympic] cycle'. 'We are working on finding the good balance between training and pleasure to be able to commit to another Olympics … he will defend his title,' Koenig said. 'But the next Olympics is still very far. As I said [before], I'll do my best to keep him motivated during the next three years.' An underdog in Tokyo in 2021 before defying all odds in Paris last summer to become only the third men's foilist to defend his Olympic title, Cheung has been 'feeling better and better' as the current season progresses, Koenig said. Cheung (left) with coach Greg Koenig after beating Italy's Tommaso Martini in the round of 16. Photo: FIE On Saturday, however, Cheung was eliminated in the quarter-finals at the World Cup leg in Vancouver, losing 15-14 to Davide Filippi of Italy after earlier defeating another Italian, Tommaso Martini.
