China’s Hong Kong wins first gold medal in the Paris Olympics

China’s Hong Kong athlete Jiang Minhui won the gold medal in the women's individual fencing (epee) event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, securing Hong Kong's first gold medal of these Games. This achievement highlights the significant progress of fencing in Hong Kong.

Jiang experimented with various sports from a young age before ultimately choosing fencing. After making her Olympic debut in 2016, she achieved decent results for Hong Kong in the fencing event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite being eliminated in the quarterfinals at Tokyo, Jiang's performance in the Paris Olympics was remarkable. In the final, she staged a dramatic comeback from a 1:7 deficit to win 12:11, demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship.

While preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, she also completed her Master’s thesis in Law at Renmin University of China. In September 2021, she began pursuing a Ph.D. in Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Jiang ranked number one in the world before the Paris Olympics, drawing considerable attention from all sectors in Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee congratulated Jiang in a phone call following her victory, praising her accomplishment as a source of pride for all Hong Kong citizens.

Jiang's gold medal has further advanced the maturity of fencing in Hong Kong and inspired greater interest in the sport among young people.

At the pre-match media conference earlier that day, Head Coach Cheng Siu-hong emphasized the importance of maintaining athletes' physical health and mental balance. He urged athletes and coaches to set aside their burdens, enjoy the competition, and aim for excellent results. Now his wish has been fulfilled.