Harrow Hong Kong’s international fencer and Captain of the Hong Kong U23 team, Terence (Year 13, Peel) has overcome a challenging season to triumph at the recent Asian U23 Championships in Vietnam (26-31 October).
The young talent, who is a member of both the Hong Kong U20 and Senior National Fencing squads in the Sabre discipline, picked up a bronze medal in the team event and placed seventh in the individual event at the recent Championship, held in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.
“Overall the level of competition was very high,” Terence explained.
“In the individual event, I defeated an Australian fencer and a Japanese fencer 15-4 and 15-6 respectively. In the quarter-final, however, I lost to the defending champion, a Korean fencer, 11-15. That fencer came second in the last senior world tournament, so I was not too disappointed with the result.”
The Hong Kong Captain confirmed: “In the team event, in the quarter-final, we defeated Japan 45-42 but unfortunately lost to the hosting country Vietnam in the semi-final by 41-45.”
These outstanding results build on Terence’s gold (U17 team and individual) and bronze U20 team and individual) medal performances at the Asian Junior and Cadet Championships in Thailand earlier this year, and mark a return to form for the Peel pupil after a challenging period with injury. Terence’s last performance in the U17 category was compromised by a severe wrist problem at the Cadet World Championships in Bulgaria, earlier in the season.
“I honestly I thought I might never be able to get back to my previous form,” he explained.
Fortunately, Terence’s hard work and resilience saw him recover to his previous form, and rekindled his love of the sport.
“I like the challenge of fencing, how it doesn’t only rely on physical ability, but is also about tactics and skill. I think of it as a game of mental chess.”
“My training programme is about 60 hours per month, and I train from the Hong Kong Sports Institute facility in Sha Tin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.”
“When I first started fencing I didn’t think it would take me where it has. Initially I was into horse-riding and was a member of the Harrow equestrian team, but I strangely became allergic to horse hair so had to find another sport!”
Terence is aiming for a place at next year’s Asian Games in Indonesia, and Harrow Hong Kong wishes him every success in this quest.