Confidence, consistency and patience will be the keys to Hong Kong's next breakthrough in international fencing, according to HK sabre coach Pierre Mione, as the city gears up to host the 2026 FIE Fencing World Championships for the first time.
Speaking at a media event on Thursday (July 2) ahead of the tournament, the French coach praised the mentality of HK's fencers and said the team has earned growing respect from rivals on the international stage.
"Don't be shy, be confident. You can do it," Mione said. "HK fencers are hardworking and ambitious. They are beginning to understand that fencing is not only about wanting to win, but about knowing how to win."
The "Kerry Fencing World Championships 2026 Hong Kong, China", jointly organized by the Fencing Association of Hong Kong, China and the International Fencing Federation, will take place from July 22 to 30 at AsiaWorld-Expo, marking the first time the sport's premier event has been staged in HK.
A 24-member HK squad was officially introduced to the media on Thursday, with athletes and coaches outlining their preparations for the home championships. The squad includes top fencers such as Olympic champion Cheung Ka-long and world medallist Ryan Choi Chun-yin.
Mione believes HK fencing has entered a new phase of development, noting that international opponents now approach matches against HK with a level of focus rarely seen in previous years.
"It wasn't the same in the past," he said. "Now other teams are very focused when they step onto the piste to face Hong Kong fencers."
He cautioned, however, that the team's next step will be even more demanding.
"If we want to become better, we must be more consistent," he said. "The next step is more difficult, but that's exactly the challenge we need."
While HK's foil team has established itself among the world's elite in recent years, Mione said the sabre squad remains a work in progress.
"We haven't achieved the same results as the foil team yet, but we're improving step by step," he said. "The team is very young, and we have time. One of our members won a silver medal at the last National Games, and we hope the younger fencers can follow the same path."
Despite acknowledging the gap between HK and the world's leading sabre nations, Mione expressed confidence in the team's long-term prospects.
"We have ambition and confidence for the future," he said.
Competing at home could also provide an added advantage, he suggested.
"At the World Championships, anything is possible. Some of the strongest athletes will arrive under enormous pressure. Maybe one of my team members can produce something incredible at home."
Looking ahead to the competition, Mione said the immediate objective for the individual events is to advance into the second day of competition, while the team event target is a place in the last 16.
"If we reach the top 16, we'll probably face the world No. 1 or No. 2 team," he said. "That will be a huge challenge, but our priority is to gain experience, earn ranking points and continue building for the future."
Earlier at the media event, Sports Commissioner Tsoi Kin Pan said hosting the World Championships demonstrates HK's capability to stage major international sporting events while showcasing the city's strength in fencing.
Hong Kong head coach Zheng Zhaokang said the team has been fully focused on preparations over the past several months and believes the home squad has the quality to compete for medals in front of local supporters.
The championships will run from July 22 to 30, with tickets already on public sale.
(Reporter, Cameraperson & Video Editor: Zoey SUN)
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