Hong Kong fencer Janelle Leung combines TCM, Western medicine after ankle injury

TCM or Western medicine for sports injuries? Why this Hong Kong athlete chose both

Hong Kong fencer Janelle Leung Ya-lei is combining elite competition with formal Chinese medicine studies after drawing on that knowledge during an ankle injury before a major event.

Leung was part of the Hong Kong team that clinched a bronze medal in the women’s foil team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. She is ranked 53rd in the world, placing her among athletes for whom even a small physical setback can affect high-stakes competition.

An injury before the Cairo Foil World Cup

In April 2026, Leung sustained a partial tear to her ankle ligament just seven days before the Cairo Foil World Cup. The timing left little room between the injury and the scheduled competition.

She was also away from Hong Kong and had limited access to her regular medical team. In that situation, Leung looked to her Chinese medicine knowledge, which she has been developing through her ongoing studies at Baptist University.

Leung was admitted to the Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science programme in 2023. Her experience forms part of a wider discussion about how athletes are using traditional Chinese medicine alongside Western medicine during injury recovery.

A broader role for traditional Chinese medicine

The report says Asian Games fencers and experts in TCM describe growing acceptance of the approach among athletes. That interest extends beyond elite competitors, with both amateur and professional athletes using TCM alongside Western medicine for what the report describes as smarter injury recovery.

Leung’s case is included in the third instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine. The instalment examines her experience and the views of local practitioners on how TCM is being used in sports injury recovery.

Source: South China Morning Post