Hong Kong gold, Hungarian fair play highlight first day of fencing

Fencing is a sport of true champions.

From the swordsmanship skills of Middle Age knights to the tradition of duels in the 19th century, its roots have long been present throughout history.

It appeals to the mental strength of athletes, who have to combine flexibility, precision, and nimbleness to perform, and dig into unknown personal resources to win in competition.

True to this heritage, Hong Kong’s Hsieh Kaylin Sin Yan had to rely on her incredible mindset on the first day of the Chengdu FISU World University Games tournament, as she was on the edge of elimination before righting the ship en route to claiming gold in women’s individual epee.

During her quarter-final, the 22-year-old, who studies at Notre Dame University in the United States, was down by four touches two thirds into the bout and had to save two match points to defeat Yeva Mazur from Ukraine.

Hsieh went on to beat Sara Maria Kowalczyk of Italy in the final (15-6).

“I figured it was my last bout of the day, so I wanted to finish my duty in the best way possible, and now I get to enjoy the final prize.”

Fencing is also a sport of fair play.

While sportsmanship can become hard to find at times, fencing aims at keeping its values, and Hungarian Gergo Horvath showed a great, if not the best, example of fair play in the men’s sabre competition.

On a contested decision during his intense semi-final, the physical education student from Budapest University of Sports Science had been touched by his opponent, without the referee noticing nor the electric system detecting it.

When play resumed, Horvath deliberately raised his two arms and let his opponent, Samuel Jarry of France, score a free touch.

“He had touched my hat, I just think this was fair giving him back this point,” Horvath explained.

“I surely did not expect this, but it was very noble of him to do,” replied Jarry about one of the most beautiful sport moments of these FISU Games.

The Hungarian’s quest for gold was stopped, however, in the final by South Korea’s Park Sangwon from the National Korea University (15-12).

Fencing is ultimately, and above all, a sport of respect.

It respects all athletes, from all nationalities, and the Chinese crowd of the Pidu Sports Centre Gymnasium perpetuated this tradition in the best possible way. The locals cheered for all the fencers, no matter where they were from, even surprising some of them.

“I was really amazed, and a little overwhelmed to be honest, by the strong support of not only the Hong Kong team, but also all the people here in Chengdu,” shared Hsieh, who had not expected the home crowd cheering that much in favor of a Hong Kong born, Cantonese speaking young woman studying in the USA.

“But I guess I am the representation of what the FISU Games are all about. I feel extremely grateful for this experience, and for the number of locals in the audience chanting for me,” concluded the newly crowned champion, who will be back in action in the women’s epee team event on Saturday.

WRITTEN BY LOUIS GILLES, FISU YOUNG REPORTER