Hong Kong men's foil team claims historic silver at Fencing World Championships

The Hong Kong men's foil team has achieved a historic milestone, clinching a silver medal at the Fencing World Championships. The team narrowly missed out on gold, falling 44-45 to the top-ranked Italian squad in a thrilling final held on July 28, 2026, at the AsiaWorld-Expo.

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I am happy because our team’s fighting spirit has improved and we have consistently demonstrated what we are capable of doing.

Comprised of Ryan Choi, Edgar Cheung, Harris Ho, and Leung Chin-yu, the team reached the finals for the first time in their history. They secured their spot by defeating the United States 45-43 in a closely contested semi-final match. During the final against Italy, the Hong Kong team held a notable six-point lead at one stage, but the reigning world champions ultimately prevailed in a dramatic decider after the scores were tied 44-44.

This silver medal surpasses the team's previous best performance, a bronze medal won at the 2023 World Championships in Milan. Two-time Olympic champion Edgar Cheung expressed regret over the narrow defeat but highlighted the team's improved fighting spirit and consistent demonstration of their capabilities. He particularly praised 17-year-old Harris Ho, noting the young fencer's impressive achievement of reaching the final podium at such a young age.

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He is on the final podium at the age of 17. I don’t know what I was doing when I was 17.

Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, who attended the event, congratulated the team on their historic win. She expressed pride in Hong Kong's first-ever team silver medal at the Fencing World Championships and encouraged the team to continue striving for excellence, particularly in the upcoming 20th Asian Games.

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I am proud that they have made history by winning Hong Kong’s first-ever team silver medal at the Fencing World Championships.