HongKong adds 8 golds in Paralympic fencing
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-09-24 09:29

Hong Kong of China concluded the wheelchair fencing tournament of the Athens Paralympic Games with eighth gold medal on September 23.

Fung Yin Ki, Hui Charn Hung and Tai Yan Yun outlasted the Polish Team 45-43 in a thrilling final for a record number of eight golds for the Hong Kong squad.

Hong Kong finished atop the fencing medal table with a total of 14, including five silvers and one bronze, ahead of France's five -- two gold and three bronze.

Poland ranked third, 1-6-5 for a total of 12.

Poland missed the opportunity in Thursday's final to grab its second title when its fencers failed to carry out Coach Marek Gmiewkowshi's right tactics.

"We wanted to focus on the last three matches, but we didn't catch up with the chances," said Gmiewkowsky.

Hong Kong, China, was in the lead at 30-17 after six of nine bouts, but Robert Wysmiersky scored 18 hits against Hong Kong's Hui Charn Hung who scored only four hits.

Stefan Makowshi continued the rally on his teammate's success and gave Poland a four-point lead at 40-36 before the last and decider bout.

Fung Yin Ki held on his skills and experience to fight back for Hong Kong and forced Arkadiusz Jablonski into errors in defenses.

Fung covered the deficit, regained the lead for his team and never looked back to a 9-3 bout win which sealed the victory for Hong Kong.

"I still didn't know yet what happened," Jablonski said after the defeat. "Maybe I was too tired. Yesterday I won against them and today it did not work."

France claimed the bronze in a fight against Italy.

After leading Italy 40-38 in the first eight bouts, Cyril More lost 6-5 to his Italian opponent Alberto Pellegrini in the final meeting. But even the defeat was enough to bring France to a narrow 45-44 win.

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