London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026

Hong Kong erupts in joy as 'god of sword' Edgar Cheung Ka-long wins city's first gold medal in 25 years

Hong Kong erupts in joy as 'god of sword' Edgar Cheung Ka-long wins city's first gold medal in 25 years

Fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long made history as he earned Hong Kong’s first gold medal in 25 years and the city’s second-ever in Olympics history.

The details: Cheung, 24, beat Italian Olympian Daniele Garozzo in the grand finals of men’s fencing at the Tokyo Games on Monday, according to France24.

*  “To be honest, I'm not that calm, I don't know what I can do," Cheung told reporters after winning 15-11 and taking home the gold medal. “It’s like a dream – that’s why everyone thinks I’m calm, but I didn’t know what happened."

*  Hong Kong won its first gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for windsurfing. It was then followed by a silver medal in table tennis at the 2004 Athens Olympics and a bronze in cycling at the 2012 London Olympics.

*  “Because in total medals in Hong Kong, we only have three. Now we have four because we haven’t had a gold medal since 1996 so it means a lot to show to the world we can do it,” Chueng said.

*  Cheung will reportedly receive five million Hong Kong dollars ($600,000) as a reward from the city's government for his gold medal win.


Crowd reaction: Cheung said people back home had gone “insane” after winning the gold medal in fencing.

*  Roars of cheer echoed in Hong Kong malls as people witness Cheung's victory at the Tokyo Games, Essentially Sports reported.


*  Cheung’s win also united the people of Hong Kong, from pro-Democratic leaders to pro-Beijing supporters, according to Asian Nikkei.

*  Ming Pao, a pro-democratic daily newspaper, praised Cheung for bringing honor to Hong Kong, while Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao, two other newspapers from the opposite political spectrum, called him a “god of sword.”

*  Chief Executive Carrie Lam also applauded Cheung for “making history” for the city and that it “makes all Hong Kong people proud."


Past achievements: Cheung, who is ranked 19th in the world of fencing, won many medals under his name from different international events in the last seven years, The Standard reported.

*  Cheung won four gold medals from different categories at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Jordan in 2014. He also took home the bronze medal in the men’s team foil in fencing at the Incheon Asian Games the same year.

*  He won another bronze medal in the men's foil individual fencing at the Singapore Asian Fencing Championships in 2015 and a gold medal in the same category at the Wuxi Asian Fencing Championships the following year.

*  Cheung qualified for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics but lost to Brazil’s Guilherme Toldo in round 16.

*  He won another gold medal in men’s foil individual at the Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships in Bulgaria in 2017. In the same year, he took home a silver and bronze for men’s individual and team foil, respectively, at the Hong Kong Asian Fencing Championships.

*  Cheung won the bronze medal at the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games in 2018 and a silver medal at the Italy FIE Grand Prix in 2019.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Taxpayer Support Grows for Higher Digital Levies on Multinational Tech Companies
Bank of England Signals Caution Over Inflation Despite Easing Energy Prices
Lloyds Banking Group Expands Artificial Intelligence Hiring Amid Sector-Wide Automation Shift
Film Producer Corporate Collapse Leaves Creditors Facing Unrecoverable Losses
UK Ten-Year Brexit Anniversary Highlights Ongoing Political and Economic Uncertainty
Nottingham Maternity Scandal Inquiry Reveals Systemic Failings in NHS Care
Met Office Heatwave Prompts Public Health Warnings Across United Kingdom
Concerns Rise Over Fiscal Stability as Political Uncertainty Weighs on UK Borrowing Costs
UK Taxpayers Back Higher Digital Taxes on Global Technology Firms, Survey Shows
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Persistent Services Inflation
Reform UK and Opposition Leaders Call for General Election Following Starmer’s Departure
Ten Years After Brexit Referendum, UK Faces Ongoing Political Fragmentation and Economic Debate
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Inquiry Exposes Severe NHS Failures
Met Office Issues Heat Health Alerts as United Kingdom Faces Record-Breaking Temperatures
Andy Burnham Emerges as Front-Runner for Labour Leadership After Starmer’s Resignation
Keir Starmer Resigns as UK Enters New Phase of Political Leadership Transition
UK Expands Alcohol Ban Enforcement Using Tagging Technology Ahead of World Cup
UK Invests £50 Million in Critical Minerals Supply Chain Security
UK Appoints Special Envoy on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
UK Introduces Fines for Landlords of Unsafe Rental Properties
Reform UK Leads Opinion Polls as Immigration Debate Reshapes UK Politics
Police Investigate Edinburgh Attacks as Potential Hate Crimes
King Charles to Publish Personal Tax and Royal Household Financial Records
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Inquiry Report Set for Publication
Heat-Health Alerts Issued Across London and Southern England Amid Rising Temperatures
UK Economy Shows Pressure From Middle East Conflict Despite Modest Growth
Brexit Anniversary Reignites Debate Over UK Economic and Political Direction
UK Parliament Continues Legislative Work Amid Leadership Transition
Financial Markets Hold Steady After UK Leadership Shake-Up
Andy Burnham Enters Labour Leadership Race With Strong Parliamentary Backing
Keir Starmer Resigns as UK Prime Minister After Two Years in Office
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson to Raise Pension Concerns Over British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
UK Parliament to Debate Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Following Public Petition
Met Office Warns of Water Safety Risks During Heatwave as Temperatures Peak in England
Treasury Increases Mileage Allowance Payments for 2026–27 Tax Year to 55 Pence Per Mile
UK Government Raises Electricity Generator Levy to 55 Percent in New Revenue Measure
House of Lords Moves Financial Services and Markets Bill to Committee Stage Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
Westminster Hall to Debate Petition on Pro-Israel Influence in UK Politics
UK Parliament Prepares for Estimates Days Debates as Backbench Business Schedule Approved
Armed Forces Bill Nears Final Stages in UK House of Commons With Military Justice Reforms
Donald Trump Comments on UK Political Situation, Citing Immigration and Energy Policy Concerns
Andy Burnham By-Election Victory Fuels Speculation Over Potential Labour Leadership Contest
UK Economy Shows Resilience but Faces Headwinds from Middle East Tensions, UK Finance Says
UK Parliament Opens Week of Debates on Net Zero, Security and Armed Forces Reform
Met Office Issues Amber Extreme Heat Warning as Temperatures Expected to Reach 35C Across England and Wales
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Faces Mounting Leadership Pressure After Makerfield By-Election Defeat
London Hotel Wins World’s Best Afternoon Tea Award at International Hospitality Guide La Liste
Court of Appeal Rules in Favour of Competition and Markets Authority in Phenytoin Drug Case
Chichester Waste Site Suspended After Environment Agency Finds Serious Fire and Pollution Risks
UK Appoints Chris Elmore as Special Envoy on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
×