Cheung Ka-long whetted the appetite for the National Games on Tuesday, taking on Enzo Lefort in a fencing exhibition at Hong Kong Palace Museum to mark 75 days to go until the multi-sport extravaganza.
Staged to step up anticipation for the city co-hosting November’s Games, the “Palace of Champions: Fencing for Spirit” event thrust Cheung into combat with a Frenchman he narrowly beat on his way to winning Olympic gold for a second time in Paris last year.
And just as he did in their Paris quarter-final, the Hongkonger came out on top, this time prevailing 15-12.
Before the bout at the museum, in the city’s West Kowloon Cultural District, Paul Chan Mo-po, the financial secretary, hailed a “truly historic occasion”.
“It’s the first time fencing has been staged at this iconic cultural landmark, which has been reimagined as a stage for athletic excellence,” said Chan, who added that Hong Kong was aiming to stage a “simple, safe and wonderful National Games” that delivers an “unforgettable experience”.
Fencing is one of eight sports the city will stage when it co-hosts with Guangdong and Macau from November 9 to 21.
Taking centre stage after performances of string music and Chinese drums, Cheung gave an athletic, aggressive display to overcome two-time world champion Lefort.
