Hong Kong fencer combines traditional Chinese and Western medicine for sports injuries
Hong Kong fencer Janelle Leung Yalai said she uses both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine to recover from injuries. In April 2026, she suffered a partial tear of an ankle ligament just seven days before the World Cup in Cairo.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh1 min read
Hong Kong fencer Janelle Leung Yalai, ranked 53rd in the world, uses both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine to recover from sports injuries. She described her choice of this approach after her success at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where she helped the Hong Kong team win bronze in the women's team foil event.
According to the athlete, the difference between peak form and a serious injury can be minimal. In April 2026, Leung suffered a partial tear of an ankle ligament — just seven days before the World Cup in foil in Cairo.
Relying on knowledge of Chinese medicine
While away from Hong Kong and without full access to her usual medical team, Leung relied on the knowledge of Chinese medicine she acquired while studying at Baptist University. In 2023, she was admitted there to the program "Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Research."
As TCM specialists note, this approach is gaining increasing recognition among athletes — both elite and amateur — who use traditional Chinese medicine alongside Western medicine for more effective recovery after injuries.
Source: scmp.com
