TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Chen Yi-tung (陳弈通), a 21-year-old Taiwanese fencer, made his Olympic debut in the men's individual foil event. On Monday (July 29), Chen faced Lebanese fencer Philippe Wakim in a thrilling match at 3:25 p.m. Taiwan time.
Chen secured a hard-fought victory, defeating Wakim 15-13 to advance to the round of 32. The first round saw both athletes neck and neck, with Chen initially trailing due to missed strikes but managing to tie the score at 12-12 by the end.
In the second round, Chen and Wakim continued their intense battle. Chen reached match point at 14, and after Wakim's attack hit an invalid target area, Chen seized the opportunity to counter and win with a score of 15.
The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) explained that fencing is divided into three types based on the blades: foil, épée, and sabre. Foil is the most fundamental and popular in Asia.
Fencing competitions can be individual or team events. For individual events, each bout lasts 9 minutes and is divided into three 3-minute periods. The fencer with the most hits within the time limit wins.
As Chen Yi-tung advances, fans eagerly await his next match, hoping for another stellar performance from the young athlete.
