Teenage fencing prodigy Harris Ho emerges as heir to Cheung Ka-long's throne ahead of Asian Games
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's 17-year-old fencing prodigy Harris Ho Hing-shim has announced himself on the world stage after a stunning performance at the Kerry Fencing World Championships, where he defeated three top-10 Italian opponents. Foil coach Greg Koenig awarded him an extraordinary rating of "11 out of 10" for his flawless display in the team final, narrowly lost to Italy. Ho is set to make his Asian Games debut this week, positioning him as the heir apparent to Olympic champion Cheung Ka-long.
Key Points
- Harris Ho Hing-shim, aged 17, defeated Italy's Guillaume Bianchi (world No. 3), Filippo Macchi (world No. 4), and Tommaso Marini (world No. 13) at the Kerry Fencing World Championships
- Foil coach Greg Koenig, who has revolutionised fencing in Hong Kong, awarded Ho "11 out of 10" for his flawless performance in the gut-wrenching team final defeat by Italy
- Zheng Kangzhao, Hong Kong fencing head coach for the past 15 years, described Ho as the "biggest surprise" of the world championships
- Ho began fencing at age four, following in the footsteps of his elder siblings, and realised his elite-level potential around age 14
- Koenig noted: "Before the world championships, nobody knew him. Now the whole world knows him"
- Ho is scheduled to make his Asian Games debut this week
Why It Matters
Ho's meteoric rise marks a potential changing of the guard in Hong Kong fencing, as he prepares to step out of the shadow of Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long. The Asian Games will serve as the ultimate test of whether this teenage prodigy can sustain his remarkable form on the biggest stage .
Ho's meteoric rise marks a potential changing of the guard in Hong Kong fencing, as he prepares to step out of the shadow of Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long. The Asian Games will serve as the ultimate test of whether this teenage prodigy can sustain his remarkable form on the biggest stage .