Hong Kong continued its promising start at the Paris Olympics with two more medals on Tuesday — a gold for fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long who successfully defended his title, and a bronze for swimmer Siobhán Haughey, a two-time Olympic silver medalist.

Following fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai’s gold medal on Saturday, Hong Kong has now secured a total of three medals in the first few days of the global sporting spectacle.

The 1.93-meter-tall Cheung, 27, showed the value of his experience at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, withstanding pressure in the latter stages of the men’s foil individual final against Italian rival Filippo Macchi, prevailing  15-14 in the historic Grand Palais in Paris.

As the first Hong Kong athlete to win gold in consecutive Olympics, Cheung showed a symbolic ‘V’ gesture of victory in his moment of triumph.

In an interview after his historic feat, Cheung said that Hong Kong competitors have shown that despite the city’s small size, self-belief can lead to great accomplishments.

Hong Kong swim star Siobhan Haughey, who won two silver medals in Tokyo three years ago, led for most of the women’s 200m freestyle final on Tuesday, before being overtaken by the favored Australian duo Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus and finishing third in a time of 1 minute 54.55 seconds.

Haughey now has three Olympic medals  — two silver and one bronze  — and is the Hong Kong competitor with the most Olympic medals in history.

Haughey expressed her delight at the support she has received in Paris, saying that the level of competition is higher than ever and it is a challenging task to be able to achieve a podium finish as a medalist.

Government officials, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu, congratulated Cheung and Haughey on their achievements, highlighting their skills and perseverance.

Lee said Cheung’s achievement underscores the strengths and capabilities of Hong Kong athletes, and he believes that the moment Cheung clinched victory with his final decisive strike, the entire city resonated with happiness and pride.

The chief executive reiterated Hong Kong’s longstanding commitment to sports, particularly in athlete training. He outlined the key elements contributing to success, highlighting the importance of excellent coaching, top-notch facilities, and a supportive environment that enables athletes to dedicate themselves fully to training and to reach peak performance levels.

Echoing the sentiment, Eric Wong, a 32-year-old architectural designer, said that in a rapidly evolving and challenging era, Cheung’s indomitable sporting spirit has reminded Hong Kong residents that the city can rise in adversity and demonstrate an unyielding fighting spirit.

Arno Lee Yu-fan, a 20-year-old student, felt immense pride and excitement at Cheung’s successful defense of his gold medal.

Lee said Cheung’s unwavering efforts and training paid off with another championship title, showcasing his proficiency and demonstrating the strength of Hong Kong competitors on the international stage.

Lee said he believes that Cheung’s success will inspire more Hong Kong young people to get involved in sports. He is confident that with dedication and determination, the younger generation can also achieve remarkable feats. He said he will continue to follow and support Hong Kong’s sports development.

To boost the city’s sports development, experts offered their suggestions. Patrick Lau Wing-chung, professor of the Department of Exercise and Public Health at the Hong Kong Baptist University, emphasized the pivotal role of the government in mobilizing large corporations, institutions, and the food and retail sectors to promote the value and positive image of elite athletes.

Lau said there is a need for Hong Kong to cultivate local expertise in organizing sports events, suggesting increased investment in sports industry-related courses at universities to enhance professionalism and industry integration for the future.

Hong Kong Swimming Teachers’ Association Deputy Chief Executive, Li Chi-leung, said that the number of people learning to swim has increased since Haughey won two silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Li said he believes that Haughey’s bronze medal will have a significant impact on the overall development of swimming in Hong Kong, leading to a potential increase in government resources allocated to the sport.

However, Li highlighted a pressing issue concerning the inadequate number of swimming pools in Hong Kong, particularly those with indoor facilities. He believes that the shortage constrains regular swimming practice and indirectly limits the availability of swimming classes.

He said this scarcity makes it expensive for parents of children wanting to swim, making it challenging to promote swimming as a widely accessible sport and restricting opportunities for more children to participate.

Many shopping malls have been broadcasting events at the Paris Olympics, drawing crowds of spectators who gather in front of large screens to witness the thrilling competition unfold.

Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said the business volume of the catering industry had increased by 20 percent recently and is expected to increase by 15 percent to 20 percent during the Olympics.

Wu Xinyu in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com