SAR fencers aim even higher after Paris

Hong Kong fencers Daphne Chan and Cedric Ho said they're aiming higher after making their Olympic debuts in Paris. Both hope to continue to shine in the sport thanks to the spirit of never giving up. Chan bowed out of the women’s foil individual event after she was beaten by Germany’s Anne Sauer in the round of 16. Still, it's the best result ever in the event for a Hong Kong athlete. The 19-year-old recalled enjoying every moment on the stage. “I was just focusing on the skills or tactics, what I want to do and just try my very best to score. And even though I know at the very end the gap was quite big, I didn't give up. Actually in my mind, I just want to try all my stuff and I just want to do my best," she said. Chan said fellow fencers Vivian Kong and Edgar Cheung’s triumphs motivated her and other young athletes. “It was amazing because my competition day was in the middle. So like before my competition day I saw Vivian got the gold medal… They brought home two gold medals which is never easy, and I think a lot of citizens will know fencing this sport and I think more and more kids will be joining this sport as well." As a part-time fencer who’s studying in the United States, Chan said it was difficult to juggle between fencing and her studies. But she made it clear she didn’t want to give up the sport. Ho, meanwhile, recalled being at a crossroads after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Games three years ago. “The idea of giving up came up most when I was at my lowest point, which was about two or three years after the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. I was a bit down and confused and kind of wanted to give up, but luckily I got through in the end,” the 28-year-old said. Ho is the first male épéeist from the SAR to qualify for the Olympics in 12 years. He lost to Japan's Masaru Yamada in the round of 32. “This proves that we have worked very hard in the men's épée category for the past 12 years. The success of our men's épée is due to the whole team and the coaches working together,” he said. His coach, Nicola Lu, said he's proud of Ho’s performance in Paris. “I feel that he has a lot of takeaways. He's seen his potential, his strengths, and he also has seen his room for improvement. And I hope that we can keep on growing together,” he said. Lu added he's confident that fencing will continue to develop in Hong Kong because of government support and infrastructure being put in place.