Hong Kong’s men’s foil team claimed a narrow victory over their rivals Japan at the FIE Foil World Cup in Turkey on Sunday.

The 45-43 quarter-final win in Istanbul ensured that Hong Kong, despite their semi-final 45-38 loss to world No 1 Italy which sent them into the bronze-medal match against the United States, slightly extended the point difference between the teams in the world rankings.

With a win in Paris and a second place in Cairo already to their names this season, Hong Kong have 274 points and are ranked fourth, behind the US, France and Italy in first place.

Japan are fifth, just six points behind their Asian rivals.

Spearheaded by world No 1 and world champion Ryan Choi Chun-yin, Hong Kong assigned teenager Harris Ho Shing-him to two of their nine bouts against Belgium, which they won 45-31 to reach the quarter-finals.

Teenager Ho, 17, was entrusted with three more bouts against Japan, and he delivered to hand Hong Kong a 35-28 lead with two bouts to go.