Seventeen-year-old Hong Kong fencer Harris Ho Shing-him advanced confidently into the main draw of the men’s foil competition as the Kerry Fencing World Championships began Wednesday at AsiaWorld-Expo. Making his World Championships debut on home soil, Ho, ranked 27th globally, went undefeated in six pool bouts to finish sixth overall, securing direct entry into the knockout stage.
Despite pre-match nerves, Ho delivered a composed performance, acknowledging some early tension in his movements but ultimately capitalizing on his opportunities. “I was a bit nervous, which made my hand feel tense,” he said. “I lost some points I shouldn’t have lost because of nerves, but I’m glad I seized the opportunity to win.” Having turned professional late last year, Ho previously claimed a world title at the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in April, an achievement he said gave him confidence transitioning to senior-level competition.
The first three days of the championships focus on individual qualifying rounds, with the event hosted in Hong Kong for the first time. The opening day featured men’s foil and women’s épée, two disciplines where Hong Kong’s top athletes have established a strong global reputation. Alongside Ho, world No 2 and defending men’s foil champion Ryan Choi Chun-yin, two-time Olympic gold medalist Cheung Ka-long (ranked 15th), and women’s épée world No 13 Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan were seeded directly into the main draw. Additionally, women’s épée competitors Moonie Chu Ka-mong and Wu Haidi advanced through qualifying to join the main competition.
China’s contingent also delivered strong performances. Tang Junyao, ranked 27th in women’s épée, topped her pool and secured direct entry into the main draw. After narrowly missing direct qualification in several recent tournaments, Tang described the achievement as a psychological breakthrough. “I think if I can play my game, I can prepare better for the team event,” she said, emphasizing her focus on momentum building ahead of the 2027 Olympic qualification period.
Tang underscored the significance of the championships being held on home territory and expressed a shared goal among the team to perform well and support Olympic qualification efforts. She also reflected on the interplay between athletes from mainland China and Hong Kong, highlighting mutual respect and competition. “I see it as a process of learning from each other and improving together,” she said.
On the men’s side, China’s foilist Lyu Weiqi bypassed the preliminary rounds, while women’s épéeist Yu Sihan advanced to the main draw with a successful qualifying bout in the afternoon. The championships continue with further individual events and will feature team competitions later in the schedule.