The Asian Youth Fencing Championships wrapped up with a thrilling finale in the youth individual events, showcasing the consistent performance of the Hong Kong team throughout the competition. On the final day, they added 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals to their collection, totaling four medals overall. The spotlight was on the men’s foil and men’s epee categories. Nineteen-year-old He Bak-lam clinched the championship, marking the first time in 16 years that a fencer from Hong Kong has dominated the youth men’s foil category. Meanwhile, Yuen Lok-man made it to the finals for the second consecutive time, once again securing the silver medal.
In the men’s sabre event, He Bolin competed alongside Fang Xiaonan, Chen Wenxi, and Lei Jianjin. He Bolin advanced through the group stage undefeated, entering the elimination rounds as the fourth seed. He then successively defeated a Malaysian fencer and Japan’s Daisuke Kawanok for a gradual rise in form. In the quarter-finals against South Korean fencer Lee Yong-hyeong, the match was tightly contested, with He Bolin leading for most of the time. Although he was caught up at 13-13 towards the end, he proactively launched an attack to secure Single Lamp, ultimately winning 15-13 and securing his spot in the semifinals.
In the semifinals, he faced off against Uzbek swordsman Artur Begjanov. The first round was a seesaw battle, with He Bolin trailing slightly at 7:8. After the timeout, he surged ahead, scoring 7 points in a row when down 8:10, flipping the momentum entirely. He ultimately triumphed with a score of 15:10, marking his debut on the podium of the Asian Youth Individual Championships and advancing to the finals.
In the finals, he faced off against Uzbek fencer Alpamis Urakbaev. He BaLin set a distinct rhythm right from the start, quickly pulling ahead to 8-2. After adjusting, his opponent managed to close the gap with a few points, but He BaLin proved more decisive in handling key moments, maintaining stability in distance control and timing of his strikes, ultimately winning 15-11. This gold medal not only marks his first championship in the Asia-Pacific Youth category but also represents a new chapter in the team’s history, as it’s the first time since 2010 that the Hong Kong men’s foil team has clinched gold in this event, following Luo Haotian.
In the men’s foil event, Yuen Nuo-Wun continued his silver medal momentum from last season. He first defeated Chinese fencer Zheng Yang in the opening round and then claimed victory over two Saudi Arabian fencers to advance to the quarter-finals. Facing Uzbek fencer Nurmuhammad Muminov, he started the match trailing 1-5 in the first period, but slowly closed the gap to 8-10 in the second period. In the decisive final period, he scored four consecutive points to take the lead, ultimately completing a stunning comeback with a score of 15-13, showcasing his resilience.
In the semifinals against Japanese fencer Kato Naruki, Yuan Nuowen showcased remarkable composure, securing a victory with a score of 15:11, thus advancing to the finals once again. In the decisive match, he faced off against Chinese fencer Jin Shixing. The opponent’s pace was quick, and Yuan struggled to take control of the bout, ultimately finishing the match with a score of 7:15. For the second consecutive year, he earned a silver medal in the youth individual category. His experiences in two finals have built a vital foundation of practical combat experience during his youth stage.
The other events also brought rewards. Lin Haolang secured a bronze medal in the men’s foil, adding another medal to the Hong Kong team’s tally; while Li Yiying claimed bronze in the women’s épée. As for Fan Baoyi, who previously won two golds in the junior category, she faced an early exit in the women’s foil youth category, reaching the round of 16 but still achieving the best result for the Hong Kong women’s foil team.
The overall summary of the individual events in the youth category shows that the Hong Kong team secured a total of 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. From Ho Pak-Lam’s consistent performance in multiple 15-point contests to Yuen Nok-Man’s impressive comebacks while trailing, their ability to seize crucial points and adapt their rhythm proved to be decisive factors. This group of young fencers is accumulating valuable competitive experience on the Asian youth stage, laying the groundwork for higher-level competitions in the future.
