‘2025 Sands China Asian Youth Elite Fencing League – Macao’
Competition Kicks Off with Opening Ceremony

Nearly 1,300 elite young fencers gearing up to energise Macao

 

(Macao, Dec. 27, 2025) –  Co-organised by Sands China Ltd. and Asia Sports Development Ltd., and with full support from the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR government and the Macao Government Tourism Office, the 2025 Sands China Asian Youth Elite Fencing League – Macao competition held an opening ceremony Saturday at Cotai Expo Hall A at The Venetian® Macao, creating an electric atmosphere and setting the stage for exciting games. 

The Dec. 26-28 competition has drawn a record participation of nearly 1,300 elite young fencers aged 6 to 14 from around the world, including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

The event is giving the young athletes the opportunity to compete and to exchange techniques with top fencers from the region and beyond.  Back for a second year, the 2025 competition has introduced new categories, including individual events for the U6 age group and team events for the U8 and U12 age groups, broadening participation and engagement among young fencers.

In the days leading up to the competition, the organisers held the 2025 Sands China Future Champions Fencing Camp Dec. 21-25 for young fencers to broaden their horizons, in support of the development of fencing in Macao. A world-class lineup of Olympic champions, coaches and elite professionals mentored young fencers aged 9 to 20, giving them a rare opportunity to learn directly from fencing’s finest. Foil was taught by Stefano Cerioni and Giovanni Bortolaso, both of whom are five-time Olympic gold medal coaches. Sabre training was led by London Olympic team gold medallist Oh Eun Seok, Paris Olympic team silver medallist Yoon Jisu, and Han Won Lee, head coach of the Dong-Eui University fencing team. 

At Saturday’s opening ceremony, Lei Sheng, the gold medallist in men’s foil at the 2012 London Olympics, shared his championship insights. He then provided personalised guidance and shared top-tier skills with two of Macao’s young fencers, helping inspire a new generation of athletes in the sport. 

After the ceremony, Lei was joined by Deng Xiaohao – double gold medallist in men’s sabre (individual and team) at the 2021 National Games – for “Sands Cares Presents: Community Sharing by Champion Fencers – Lei Sheng & Deng Xiaohao.” Together, they shared professional techniques and competition insights, with the goal of advancing the level of fencing in Macao. 

Among Saturday’s matchups was the CTF Life Cup, a competition that offered young fencers aged 6-12 an opportunity to showcase the skills they have been developing in training since July.

The 2025 Sands China Asian Youth Elite Fencing League – Macao competition is being complemented by a lively lineup of concurrent activities at Cotai Expo. With more than 500 participants, the ASD Elite Karate League is presenting a dynamic karate competition Friday-Sunday at 9:30 a.m., adding variety and exhilaration to the sporting atmosphere. Meanwhile, 60 food and sports booths offer a blend of entertainment, leisure, and delicious treats, creating a fun-filled experience for spectators at the event. 

“After the success of the inaugural Sands China Asian Youth Elite Fencing League event in Macao last year, we are thrilled to once again provide young fencers an opportunity to showcase their talent and vitality on a global stage,” said Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd. “With the enthusiastic response of young athletes this year, this premier league for Asia’s young fencing talent attracted close to 1,300 participants, fully demonstrating the vibrancy of Macao as a ‘City of Sports.’ We are also pleased to invite fencing champions Lei Sheng and Deng Xiaohao to share their professional techniques with young fencers, inspiring and encouraging them to pursue excellence in sports. We are grateful to Asia Sports Development for their collaboration, to the Macao SAR government for their continued support, to Lei and Deng for their enthusiasm in promoting fencing, and to all the fencers for giving their all and showing the audience an exciting competition. It is our hope that this competition will help inject momentum into the long-term development of sports in Macao.” 

Antonio Lam Hin Chung, director of Asia Sports Development Ltd. and chairman of the Asian Youth Elite Fencing League Organising Committee, said: “Macao has gained momentum in fencing in recent years, while Hong Kong’s achievements in the sport speak for themselves. We hope that this competition can provide young fencers from Hong Kong and Macao an opportunity to exchange techniques with peers from different regions and a platform to showcase their skills, thereby contributing to the development of fencing in Macao.”

Officiating guests at Saturday’s opening ceremony included Chan Iok Wai, head of the Department of Students of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Kevin Ho King Lun, director general of the Federation of Macau-China Sports General Associations; Elsa Cheong In Fong, acting head of the Events Promotion and International Relations Division of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Lao Tong I, acting head of the Tourism Product Division of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Sean Shen, vice president of Sports Events Development and Management for Sands China Ltd.; Antonio Lam Hin Chung; Dr. Grace Ma Wai Man, secretary general of the Macao Fencing Association; Lei Sheng, gold medallist in men’s individual foil at the 2012 London Olympics; and Deng Xiaohao, gold medallist in men’s individual and team sabre at the 14th National Games.

The 2025 Sands China Asian Youth Elite Fencing League – Macao competition and concurrent activities are free of admission and open to all. For more information, visit www.venetianmacao.com/entertainment/asian-youth-elite-fencing-league-macao-2025.html.

Over the past two decades, Sands China has actively introduced a series of events encompassing culture, tourism, and sports. Since 2007, the company has sponsored, hosted, or organised multiple large-scale sporting events, such as The NBA China Games, demonstrating the company’s commitment to promoting the development of sports and the integration of sports tourism. Sands China often utilises the opportunities presented by these competitions and exhibition games to host auxiliary events like youth clinics and community-focused events to engage further with the community and maximise the events’ positive impact on the city.