Hong Kong Foil Fencer Ryan Choi Takes Blame After Team Final Defeat in Nagoya
On.cc · 1 SOURCES1 day ago4 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's men's foil fencing team claimed silver in Nagoya on Friday, but the victory was overshadowed by Ryan Choi Chun-yin's raw admission of responsibility after the final loss. The 26-year-old disclosed he had requested to be replaced as the anchor position before the decisive match, citing an inability to handle the psychological pressure at critical moments. His teammate Cheung Ka-long, who competed despite a hand injury, revealed that adapting his fencing style under duress actually yielded unexpected results.
Key Points
- Ryan Choi publicly shouldered blame for the loss, stating he lacks the courage to face teammates after failing at crucial moments for the third time this year
- The team has now lost three consecutive finals at the Asian Championships, World Championships, and Asian Games in the men's foil team event
- Choi voluntarily requested to be removed from the anchor position before the Nagoya final, with coach and teammates supporting the decision
- Cheung Ka-long revealed he competed with an unhealed left hand injury, forcing tactical adjustments that paradoxically proved effective
- The silver medal marks Hong Kong's best men's foil team result since the 2018 Jakarta Olympics, where the squad also finished second
Why It Matters
Choi's candid self-reflection highlights the intense mental burden faced by Hong Kong's elite fencers in high-stakes team competitions, particularly given three consecutive final defeats in 2026. The emergence of young prospect He Cheng-qian (何承謙) as a capable anchor provides the team with a viable succession plan, potentially strengthening squad depth for future international competitions .
Choi's candid self-reflection highlights the intense mental burden faced by Hong Kong's elite fencers in high-stakes team competitions, particularly given three consecutive final defeats in 2026. The emergence of young prospect He Cheng-qian (何承謙) as a capable anchor provides the team with a viable succession plan, potentially strengthening squad depth for future international competitions .