đź‡đź‡° HONG KONG STUNS FIELD TO CLAIM HISTORIC TEAM FOIL GOLD IN PARIS
Updated: Aug 5
PARIS, FRANCE — 11 JANUARY 2026
In a landmark victory at the prestigious Challenge International de Paris (CIP), the eighth-seeded Hong Kong Men’s Foil team captured their first gold medal and podium finish of the season. The squad—comprising Cheng, Cheung, Choi, and Lam—delivered a masterclass in team fencing to defeat the world number two USA 45-38 in the final.
The USA took home the silver medal, marking their first team podium of the campaign, while Japan secured their second bronze medal of the season. Host nation France finished in fourth place, falling just short of the podium after a silver-medal performance at the season opener.
Path to the Podium
Hong Kong’s route to the gold was defined by clinical precision and an ability to capitalize on every opening. After a steady start against Qatar and Poland, they dispatched AIN 45-34 in the quarter-finals—the latter having previously caused the shock of the morning by knocking out the top-seeded Italians. In the semi-finals, Hong Kong dominated Japan from start to finish, securing a 45-32 win. The final saw Choi, Cheung, and Lam combine brilliantly to outmaneuver an under-par American side, maintaining their composure to close out the historic 45-38 victory.
The USAÂ (Itkin, Meinhardt, Massialas, and Olivares) reached the final after a series of dominant displays, conceding no more than thirty touches in any match leading up to the final four. In the semi-finals, they faced rivals France in a cagey encounter. Tied at 14-14 after the first three legs, the Americans opened a two-point cushion in the middle of the match and never relinquished the lead, eventually winning 45-38.
Japan (Iimura, Matsuyama, Nagano, and Saito) proved their mettle by surviving back-to-back thrillers to reach the semi-finals, edging out Germany 45-44 and the fifth-seeded Hungary 45-43. After a tough loss to Hong Kong, they regrouped for the bronze medal play-off against France. Following a tight 13-12 opening third, the Japanese team shifted gears to dominate the remainder of the match, cruising to a 45-29 victory.
France (Anane, Bibard, Pauty, and Savin) looked imperious in the early rounds, with 45-26 victories over both Austria and Egypt. However, they were unable to find their rhythm in the medal rounds, falling to the USA in the semi-finals and Japan in the bronze play-off.
