On Wednesday night, Hong Kong's Kai Tak Arena thundered with cheers as the men's foil team final of the 15th National Games reached its denouement. When the Hong Kong team claimed the final points, the crowd rose as one — and the arena exploded in celebration.

In its 45-34 win over Fujian, Hong Kong not only delivered a commanding performance, but also the city's first-ever National Games fencing gold medal.

Two-time Olympic champion Edgar Cheung Ka-long, world No 1 Ryan Choi Chun-yin, Leung Chin-yu and Lawrence Ng Lok-wang fell into each other's arms, embracing tightly before bowing to the thousands of supporters who had filled the arena.

For Cheung, the moment carried personal weight: Three days earlier, he had suffered a shock defeat in the semifinals of the individual foil event, finishing with bronze. Now, he had a medal in a color he was more familiar with — and made history while winning it.

"I'm so happy that we managed to win the gold. It's not just us athletes, but also the coaches, many people who have helped us — and the people of Hong Kong. I feel like we all fought this competition together," Cheung said.

The home advantage added to the emotion. "As a team, winning the title on home turf is really special," he added. "A lot of people were here cheering for us, and it was really moving."

For years, Hong Kong had come close, but never quite broke through, winning bronze in both 2017 and 2021. Its rivalry with Fujian told a similar story: Hong Kong took the bronze match in 2017, while Fujian dominated their 2021 semifinal meeting.

This year's final brought another layer of complexity with Fujian's Xu Jie, who had eliminated both Cheung and Choi in the individual competition. But, despite Xu's strong form, Hong Kong's cohesion and strategic clarity proved decisive.

"The key to winning was the team. Everyone supported one another," Cheung said. "For me, I felt especially good today because, before the team event, we discussed our lineup and strategies together. I think that's where our advantage came from."

ALSO READ: Fencing team claims gold at National Games

The rivalry between Cheung and Xu had been one of the centerpieces of the tournament. Xu's win over Cheung in the individual semifinals was one of the biggest surprises of the competition.

Reflecting on it later, Xu said: "He's the higher-ranked fencer, so I had nothing to lose. I've fenced him twice before, and the scores were pretty bad for me. So this time feels like an improvement — I'm quite happy."

Cheung acknowledged the strength of mainland fencers, but also noted the progress Hong Kong's athletes have made.

"In the past, national competitions felt extremely difficult, but now it's obvious that Hong Kong athletes are improving."

Yet behind the tension of competition lies a circuit where athletes train, travel and grow together.

"Before this, the Hong Kong team trained in Guangzhou. I'm very familiar with Mo Ziwei — we're about the same age. At this National Games, there are both unfamiliar and familiar faces. For example, Xu Jie — we often compete together and chat a lot. We're friends."

His own journey to this moment began long before the bright lights of the Kai Tak Arena.

Born in 1997 to two professional basketball players, Cheung grew up dreaming of netting championship-winning buzzer-beaters.

That changed when he was 10 years old and encountered fencing for the first time. Captivated, he hung up his basketball sneakers and reached for the foil, embarking on a path that would eventually reshape Hong Kong's sporting history.

His breakthrough came in 2016, when, at age 19, he stunned the region by defeating Team China's Olympic champion Lei Sheng and Japanese world champion Yuki Ota to win Hong Kong's first Asian Fencing Championships title.

The next milestone came at Tokyo 2020, he claimed Hong Kong's first Olympic gold since the city's return to China in 1997. Then, in Paris 2024, he successfully defended his Olympic crown.

But, a National Games gold had long eluded him. He made his debut in 2017, winning bronze in the team event, but an injury at the previous edition in 2021 forced him to withdraw before the competition.

This year presented a new opportunity — and the hometown setting elevated the stakes. On Nov 9, at the opening ceremony in Guangzhou, Cheung helped light the cauldron alongside Guangdong sprint icon Su Bingtian and Macao martial artist Li Yi, a symbolic moment that foreshadowed his central role in the Games.

READ MORE: Official congratulates men's fencing team for its gold medal

With Hong Kong's first fencing gold now secured and the home crowd still echoing around him, Cheung's journey at this National Games ends on a note of fulfillment — a championship he chased for years, won not alone, but together as one.