{"id":832717,"date":"2025-07-28T21:52:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T13:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/?p=832717"},"modified":"2025-07-29T05:30:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:30:15","slug":"ryan-choi-hong-kong-first-fencing-world-champion-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/lifestyle-en-2\/sports-en-2\/ryan-choi-hong-kong-first-fencing-world-champion-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Choi Makes History as Hong Kong&#8217;s First Fencing World Champion at 27 in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At just 27 years old, Hong Kong fencing representative Ryan Choi has made history by winning the men\u2019s individual foil event at the 2025 World Fencing Championships, defeating Russian competitor Kirill Borodachev 15-9. This victory marks Ryan as the first world champion from Hong Kong, adding an exciting chapter to the city&#8217;s fencing legacy! Over the past two months, Ryan also clinched gold at both the Shanghai Grand Prix and the Asian Championships, launching his world ranking from 12th to an impressive 1st place, achieving the dual glory of World Champion and the world&#8217;s first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the finals, Cai Junyan fell behind briefly at the start with a score of 3:4, but he quickly adjusted his rhythm, clinching 5 points in a row to take the lead at 8:4, solidifying his advantage. By the end of the first quarter, he was ahead 11:8. In the second quarter, Cai Junyan maintained his momentum, consistently breaking through his opponent&#8217;s defenses while also solidifying his attacks, ultimately sealing the win at 15:9. This victory marks his first gold medal at a world championship in his professional career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Reflecting on Ryan&#8217;s Journey<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Ryan&#8217;s fencing journey began at the age of nine when he was introduced to foil under his mother&#8217;s guidance. Initially, he was resistant to the sport, even considering fencing Dangerous yet dull. However, during his first fencing class at La Salle Primary School, he was captivated by the sport&#8217;s dynamic nature and strategic elements, marking the start of his fencing path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After enrolling at La Salle College, Choi Chun-yan joined the school team, training and battling alongside his teammates in inter-school competitions. In his second year, he represented the school for the first time in these competitions, facing strong opponents like St. Paul&#8217;s College. Though the pressure was immense, he learned how to adapt in the moment and embraced team spirit. The culture of the school team Brotherhood Class became a driving force for his perseverance, along with guidance from experienced coaches, laying a solid foundation for his future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As a student athlete, Ryan has faced the dual pressures of academics and training. He admits that in order to focus on fencing, he often sacrificed his study time, which affected his grades for a while. In his sixth form year, he boldly took a six-month leave from the Hong Kong Sports Institute to fully prepare for the DSE diploma exam, ultimately gaining admission to the accounting program at the University of Hong Kong. However, during his second year of university, he realized that the golden period of his athletic career was fleeting and decided to pause his studies to fully commit to professional training. This decision marked a turning point in his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"814\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-814x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-814x1024.jpeg 814w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-239x300.jpeg 239w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-768x966.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-1221x1536.jpeg 1221w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-150x189.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-450x566.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-1200x1509.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cai Junyan&#8217;s career hasn&#8217;t been a smooth ride. In 2022, he soared to a world ranking of 6, but soon fell into a slump, even doubting whether he could achieve The First Dream. It wasn&#8217;t until this year, when his dream finally came true, that Ryan exclaimed after winning the World Championships: After experiencing a setback, the championships at the Shanghai Grand Prix and the Asian Championship reignited my passion for pursuing my goals..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-450x253.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cai Junyan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his friends and family who have supported him throughout his journey, including his college roommate and popular boy band MIRROR member Edan. He humorously remarked that this warm friendship between the sports world and the entertainment industry has turned into a beloved tale among the people of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At 27, Ryan Choi from Hong Kong won the 2025 World Fencing Championships, becoming the first Gwok Hong Kong athlete to claim the title, with additional victories at Shanghai Grand Prix and Asian Championships boosting his world rank to number one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":832581,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"Ryan Choi, at just 27, achieved historic victory at the 2025 World Fencing Championships by defeating Kirill Borodachev 15-9, becoming Hong Kong's first-ever fencing world champion. His recent gold medals at the Shanghai Grand Prix and Asian Championships propelled his world ranking from 12th to 1st. Beginning fencing at age nine and overcoming academic and athletic pressures, Ryan's journey exemplifies resilience and strategic dedication, inspiring Hong Kong\u2019s fencing legacy. Similarly, Cai Junyan's remarkable performances, including a final win at the Asian Championships with a score of 15-9, showcase Hong Kong's rising fencing talent, supported by a strong school and coaching system and the camaraderie of entertainment industry friends like Edan of MIRROR, enriching the sports culture in Hong Kong."},"categories":[5066],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-832717","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports-en-2"},"raw_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At just 27 years old, Hong Kong fencing representative Ryan Choi has made history by winning the men\u2019s individual foil event at the 2025 World Fencing Championships, defeating Russian competitor Kirill Borodachev 15-9. This victory marks Ryan as the first world champion from Hong Kong, adding an exciting chapter to the city's fencing legacy! Over the past two months, Ryan also clinched gold at both the Shanghai Grand Prix and the Asian Championships, launching his world ranking from 12th to an impressive 1st place, achieving the dual glory of World Champion and the world's first!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":832583,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832583\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the finals, Cai Junyan fell behind briefly at the start with a score of 3:4, but he quickly adjusted his rhythm, clinching 5 points in a row to take the lead at 8:4, solidifying his advantage. By the end of the first quarter, he was ahead 11:8. In the second quarter, Cai Junyan maintained his momentum, consistently breaking through his opponent's defenses while also solidifying his attacks, ultimately sealing the win at 15:9. This victory marks his first gold medal at a world championship in his professional career.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":832586,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832586\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textAlign\":\"center\",\"level\":4} -->\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Reflecting on Ryan's Journey<\/strong><\/h4>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ryan's fencing journey began at the age of nine when he was introduced to foil under his mother's guidance. Initially, he was resistant to the sport, even considering fencing Dangerous yet dull. However, during his first fencing class at La Salle Primary School, he was captivated by the sport's dynamic nature and strategic elements, marking the start of his fencing path.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":832587,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832587\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>After enrolling at La Salle College, Choi Chun-yan joined the school team, training and battling alongside his teammates in inter-school competitions. In his second year, he represented the school for the first time in these competitions, facing strong opponents like St. Paul's College. Though the pressure was immense, he learned how to adapt in the moment and embraced team spirit. The culture of the school team Brotherhood Class became a driving force for his perseverance, along with guidance from experienced coaches, laying a solid foundation for his future.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":832588,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832588\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a student athlete, Ryan has faced the dual pressures of academics and training. He admits that in order to focus on fencing, he often sacrificed his study time, which affected his grades for a while. In his sixth form year, he boldly took a six-month leave from the Hong Kong Sports Institute to fully prepare for the DSE diploma exam, ultimately gaining admission to the accounting program at the University of Hong Kong. However, during his second year of university, he realized that the golden period of his athletic career was fleeting and decided to pause his studies to fully commit to professional training. This decision marked a turning point in his career.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":832589,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-6-814x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832589\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Cai Junyan's career hasn't been a smooth ride. In 2022, he soared to a world ranking of 6, but soon fell into a slump, even doubting whether he could achieve The First Dream. It wasn't until this year, when his dream finally came true, that Ryan exclaimed after winning the World Championships: After experiencing a setback, the championships at the Shanghai Grand Prix and the Asian Championship reignited my passion for pursuing my goals..<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":832590,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ztylezman.com_ryan-7-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832590\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Cai Junyan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his friends and family who have supported him throughout his journey, including his college roommate and popular boy band MIRROR member Edan. He humorously remarked that this warm friendship between the sports world and the entertainment industry has turned into a beloved tale among the people of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/832717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=832717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/832717\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/832581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=832717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=832717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=832717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}