Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long has clinched a gold medal on Monday (July 26) in the individual men’s foil fencing event at Tokyo Olympics, after beating defending champion Daniele Garozzo of Italy 15-11 in the final. His win not only marks Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold medal in 25 years, after windsurfer Lee Lai-shan’s 1996 success in Atlanta, but also the fourth medal of the city in history.

Speaking to the press after his victory, Cheung said he still could not believe it. “We must persist, and we should not give up easily,” he said. “I want to thank all Hong Kong people for their support.”

Earlier, the 24-year-old athlete knocked out current world number one Alessio Foconi of Italy 15-3 in the quarter-final and beat Alexander Choupenitch of the Czech Republic 15-10 in the semi-final, to become the very first Hong Kong fencing medalist. The other two Hong Kong foil fencers, Ryan Choi and Cheung Siu-lun, have reached top 16 and top 64 respectively. They will join Cheung and reserve fencer Lawrence Ng to compete in the upcoming men’s foil team event on Sunday (August 1).

Elsewhere, another Hong Kong’s top medal hope, star swimmer Siobhan Haughey has entered the semi-final of the 200m freestyle event, which will be held on Tuesday (July 27).