Press Release

HKBU hosts International Collegiate Fencing Invitational

Sunday, 13 August 2023

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) hosted the Hong Kong 2023 International Collegiate Fencing Invitational from 10 to 11 August. With the objective of providing collegiate fencers with an opportunity to experience an international fencing competition and develop world-class fencing skills, the event brought together about 60 student fencers from 13 universities, including HKBU and others from Mainland China and the United States, for a two-day friendly tournament.

The event was co-organised by HKBU and the Absolute Development and Exchange Foundation in the United States. The International Collegiate Fencing Invitational was first held in 2011 in Korea, and it has since been held in various cities in Mainland China and Singapore. This was the first time that the event was held after the pandemic and in Hong Kong.

Apart from HKBU participating with ten student fencers, other universities which joined the event include Columbia University, Duke University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, Princeton University, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Stanford University, Tsinghua University, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.

Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, is excited about this unique opportunity to host the International Collegiate Fencing Invitational this year.

“Apart from facilitating exchange among fencers, the invitational competition also provided students with a precious chance to experience a culture different from their own.

The sport of fencing has seen an increasing trend of popularity in Hong Kong, with Hong Kong fencers getting some impressive results in recent years. We hope that Hong Kong fencers will become a force to be reckoned with on the world stage in the days and years ahead,” said Professor Wai.

During the two-day tournament, participating fencers competed in men's and women's individual events in foil, epee and saber at HKBU’s Wai Hang Sports Centre. A mixed-team competition was held after the individual events, with fencers from different universities randomly selected to form teams. This offered an exciting opportunity to foster exchange, collaboration and mutual understanding among the young fencers.