July 31, 2024
PARIS – Hong Kong, China hauled two Olympic medals on Monday as Edgar Cheung Ka-long defended his men’s foil individual title while Siobhan Haughey, a silver medalist in this event at the Tokyo 2020 Games, claimed bronze in 1:54.55 in the women’s 200m freestyle final.
Cheung becomes the first athlete from Hong Kong to win two Olympic gold medals and the first athlete in this event to win back-to-back golds since 1956. This is Hong Kong’s second gold medal in Paris, following Vivian Kong Man-wai’s women’s epee individual gold on Saturday.
In the men’s foil individual final, 27-year-old Cheung, who clinched Hong Kong’s first-ever Olympic fencing gold in Tokyo, started strongly and held off a late scare, scoring three points in a row en route to a thrilling 15-14 victory over Italy’s Filippo Macchi.
Congratulatory messages poured in for Cheung and Haughey.
ALSO READ: Paris Olympics: Hong Kong aims for more sports glory
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu congratulated Cheung and his coach.
“Cheung Ka-long demonstrated his excellence, persevered, and gave full play to his skills in the competitions… His outstanding achievements are heartening and have become a source of pride for the people of Hong Kong,” Lee said.
Congratulating Haughyey, Lee said, “Siobhan demonstrated superb skills and performed at her best in the competition … All Hong Kong people and I are glad and proud of her great performance.”
Haughey won the gold medal in the Women’s 100m and 200m freestyle events at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, and also the silver medal in the same events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Cheung won the gold medal in the Men’s Foil Individual event at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou. He also won the gold medal in the same event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
ALSO READ: Haughey and Cheung aim for new heights with Hong Kong in Paris
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung too congratulated Cheung and Haughey as did other officials.
Hosts France finally clinched a much-anticipated fencing gold at the Paris Olympics, as Manon Apithy-Brunet beat compatriot Sara Balzer in the women’s sabre individual final.
A powerhouse in fencing, France narrowly missed the highest podium on the first two competition days with two silvers in the men’s and women’s epee individual events.
The French fencers secured the gold medal in advance as world No 2 Balzer eased past title favorite Olga Kharlan of Ukraine in the semifinal, while world No 5 Apithy-Brunet beat South Korea’s Choi Se-bin.
Nick Itkin of the United States defeated Japan’s Kazuki Iimura to pocket the bronze.
READ MORE: Kong clinches HK’s first gold medal in Paris
China’s Mo Ziwei, Chen Haiwei and Xu Jie also took part in the men’s foil individual event, but none made the last eight.
Haughey will compete in the 100m freestyle event later on Tuesday. With her Monday’s bronze, Haughey clocked the highest number of Olympic medals in history for a Hong Kong athlete.
In the table tennis mixed doubles event, Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem faced off against the team from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the semifinals, losing by a total score of 3-4. The Hong Kong, China team will compete for the bronze medal in the mixed doubles event later on Tuesday.