Fencing is experiencing a surge in popularity in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region following the region's unprecedented success at the Paris Olympics.
Fencers Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai both struck gold in the French capital, the most that Hong Kong has won in a single sports category.
The remarkable result has further boosted the confidence and enthusiasm of the region's fencing senior, Lau Kwok-kin, who won a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games and 2010 Asian Games in the men's foil team competition
The 47-year-old was also the first fencer ever from the region to qualify for the Olympics in 2004, and he participated in the 2008 Beijing Games as well.
Now, he works as a full time instructor at a fencing school, nurturing the next generation of fencing talent Hong Kong has to offer.
"There are many fencing schools in Hong Kong now, about 30 to 40. This vigorous development has made more young fencers willing to play it, and the chances of fostering talented and good athletes have increased a lot," he said.
Nine-year-old Alvin Tse is among the region's ambitious young fencers. After beginning a year and a half ago, he now trains four times a week and has set high sights for himself.
Tse said his ultimate goal is to compete at the Olympics and win a medal through great effort and training.
According to his school, it has seen a fivefold increase in interest in studying fencing compared to before the Olympics, especially among girls.
Lau, who coached both Kong and Cheung at the World University Games in Chengdu, says he is proud of what they have achieved.
"Vivian Kong and Edgar Cheung are both world-class fencers. They have to bear a lot of pressure. Normally, they would be more conservative when they are behind, but they are brave enough to win back points at the right time. I think their psychological control is very good, indeed world-class, and they can perform well even under great pressure," said Lau.
Fencers' golds at Paris Olympics spur learning craze in Hong Kong
Efforts are continuing to search for survivors of last Friday's powerful earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, as other post-disaster work proceeds in some parts of the city at the same time to clear the rubble of collapsed buildings, provide medical care for the injured and proper shelter for the affected, and prevent the spread of potential diseases.
According to a Myanmar rescuer participating in search and rescue operations in the country's second-largest city, the clock is ticking down to find more survivors who remain buried under the debris of collapsed buildings more than five days after the 7.9-magnitude earthquake rocked the country. The disaster has claimed 3,085 lives, injured 4,715, and left 341 more missing, the Information Team of the State Administration Council said on Thursday local time.
"The top priority for us rescuers is finding more survivors. But since a long time has already passed, our next main task will be to recover the bodies of the victims," Ko Kyaw Min, head of a rescue team from Hpakant, a town in Kachin State, told China Central Television (CCTV) in an interview on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operations as well as epidemic prevention and control efforts in Mandalay are facing multiple hurdles such as a lack of power and water supplies, a communication blackout, and high temperatures that have persisted for days.
The relevant authorities in Mandalay are going all out to restore electricity, water and communication services in the stricken areas and have brought in large machinery to clear the rubble and debris.
An air route dedicated to disaster relief has been put into operation at the city's airport since Wednesday, and another civil aviation route is expected to open on Friday, a CCTV reporter learned from local officials.
The city is also seeing more medical teams arriving to assist in treating the injured, and more relief supplies such as tents, food, drinking water, and medicine are pouring in and being distributed to the affected locals.
Post-disaster relief work ongoing in Mandalay as authorities strive to restore basic services
