Referees who oversaw Olympic fencing final ‘professional,’ says Hong Kong’s Edgar Cheung after Italy protests his win
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong Olympic fencer Edgar Cheung has defended the referees who oversaw his gold-medal win at the Paris Olympics, saying that they were “professional” and unbiased after the Italian fencing body lodged a protest against his win.
A large crowd waited to greet Cheung, who returned from the French capital early on Friday morning, at the Hong Kong International Airport. The 27-year-old fencer defended his title in the men’s individual foil event at the Paris Olympic Games after winning gold in the same event at Tokyo’s Olympics three years ago.
The Italian Fencing Federation filed a formal protest to the International Fencing Federation (FIE) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) soon after Italian fencer Filippo Macchi lost 14-15 to Cheung in a thrilling final on Monday night, Paris time. The body criticised the refereeing in the match as “unacceptable.”
Speaking to reporters at Hong Kong’s airport, Cheung said he did not think there had been any problems with the refereeing.
“In fencing, each referee has their own understanding [of refereeing] based on basic principles – some referees will first pay attention to hand movements, while others notice legs movements first,” Cheung said in Cantonese. “And we [as athletes] adjust our strategies according to referees’ habits.”
The Hong Kong fencer added: “I don’t think there were any biased calls or any calls that took a side. Referees are professional, and those who are responsible for finals must be very experienced.”
Cheung said his achievements were the result of the endeavours of many generations of Hong Kong athletes.
On Tuesday, the Italian fencer Macchi posted on Instagram saying he was grateful for his silver medal.
“I return home with a beautiful silver medal, which leaves me one step away from the ‘goal of every athlete’,” he wrote.
Windsurfers eliminated
Separately, Hong Kong athletes Cheng Ching Yin and Ma Kwan Ching bowed out of the windsurfing event after racing in the early hours of Friday.
Ma ranked 14th in women’s windsurfing while Cheng ranked 13th in men’s windsurfing.
Hong Kong sent thirty-five athletes to compete in 13 sporting events across France at the Paris Olympics. The city’s delegation has gained two gold medals in fencing – marking the first time the city has won two golds at an Olympics – and two bronze medals in swimming events. Hong Kong is currently 14th on the Olympics medals table.
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