24th July 2025 – (Tbilisi) Hong Kong fencer Ryan Choi has made history by claiming the men’s foil gold medal at the World Fencing Championships held in Georgia. Choi defeated Kirill Borodachev, a neutral athlete from Russia, to secure Hong Kong’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s foil category at the World Championships.
Choi’s journey to this historic victory was far from straightforward. In May, he failed to qualify for the main round of Vancouver Fencing World Cup in Canada, leading to a period of self-doubt during which he considered stepping away from the sport. However, within three months, Choi staged an extraordinary comeback, triumphing at both the Shanghai Grand Prix and the Asian Championships before reaching the World Championship final.
In the semi-finals, Choi overcame Hungarian fencer Gergo Szemes with a 15–11 victory to secure his spot in the final. Facing Borodachev, who had defeated him twice in past competitions, Choi displayed determination and skill. Despite losing the first two points, he quickly recovered, taking an 8–4 lead. By the second round, Choi had extended his advantage to 11–8, maintaining his momentum with a mix of defensive parries and precise attacks. He ultimately clinched the title with a decisive 15–9 victory.
Choi’s achievement follows in the footsteps of Edgar Cheung and Vivian Kong, who previously earned bronze medals at the World Championships. With this gold medal, Choi has elevated Hong Kong’s fencing legacy, becoming the first athlete from the city to win a world title in the sport.
In response, Miss Rosanna Law, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, extended her congratulations today (July 24) to Hong Kong China fencer Ryan Choi for securing the gold medal in the Men’s Foil Individual event at the 2025 Fencing World Championships.
