(Paris 2024) Edgar Cheung Ka-long defends foil title after tight win

30-07-2024 04:40 HKT

Hong Kong's top fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long has written himself into history after defending his Olympic foil title on Tuesday by beating Italy's Filippo Macchi 15-14.

Cheung, currently ranked third in the world, built up a 9-6 lead in the first period, but Macch managed to tie the score at 10-10.

Both fencers then leveled the score at 11-11 and 12-12. Macchi later edged ahead to 14-12, reaching match point.

Cheung's resilience shone through as he surged to score one point after another, leveling the score at 14-14.

The dramatic deciding point was met with three stoppages for video reviews as the fencing machine showed both fencers scored.

Cheung was finally awarded the point and defended the gold medal he won in Tokyo three years ago.

It is the second gold medal the Hong Kong team won at the Paris Olympics, after another fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai won in the women's individual epee competition.

Macchi took silver and Nick Itkin of the United States was awarded bronze in the men's foil individual.

Cheung is also the third fencer to defend the Olympic foil title, after Italy's Nedo Nali and France's Christian d'Oriola achieved the goal in 1920 and 1956, respectively.

(Updated at 4.57 am)