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Sammy Heung

Hong Kong can make fencing its signature sport after Vivian Kong Man-wai’s landmark victory at the Paris Olympics, an expert has said, adding the gold medal win may further promote the local development of sports medicine and science.
Lobo Louie Hung-tak, senior lecturer of health and physical education at the Education University of Hong Kong, said on Monday that Kong’s victory had “crucial meanings” in the context of the city’s history of competing in fencing.
He also said the win was an “important milestone” in terms of the city’s developments of sport, supporting teams, training, as well as sports science and medicine.
“Looking back on Hong Kong’s sports development, we are having a harvest season now,” the academic told a radio programme on Monday.
“It is special to see that sports can unite the public, heighten our respect towards athletes, enhance our identity, as well as improve our cohesion and pride during the Olympics … It can be said that fencing has become Hong Kong’s signature sport.”
Kong’s win followed the triumph of fellow fencer Cheung Ka-long in 2021, when he bagged a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Louie recalled that fencing was introduced in Hong Kong in the eighties and experienced an “extremely joyful moment” when the city won bronze medals for competitions in Asia during the nineties.
“During these last 20 to 30 years, the Fencing Association, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department have launched many promotional schemes at schools,” he said.
“Now, we have finally secured our gold medals in the Olympics in both men’s and women’s fencing, and Hong Kong’s important position in the international fencing stage.”
Kong won women’s fencing épée individual gold at the Paris Games 2024 on Sunday morning Hong Kong time when she defeated France’s Auriane Mallo-Breton.
The win has netted Hong Kong its third Olympic gold medal, following Cheung’s victory in 2021 and that of windsurfer Lee Lai-shan in 1996.

Louie said Kong’s victory showed fencing in Hong Kong had a “very strong” and “wide” foundation in terms of development, with fencing centres having opened across the city.
“This outstanding achievement may speed up the industrialisation and professionalisation of sports in Hong Kong,” he said, adding it could further promote the government’s policies in sports, health and education.
“Can we also invest more resources in the 13 other sports to improve our athletes’ performance? It is also an important direction for the industrialisation and professionalisation of sports.”
Louie expressed hope that sports could become more popular in Hong Kong, as the Education Bureau had proposed including it under the grading rubric for secondary school allocation.
The senior lecturer also noted that Kong’s medical team had played an important role in her victory, as she had suffered two cruciate ligament injuries before the win.
“Her team, other than rehabilitation, may also have put a lot of effort into her mental health, such as offering counselling and communicating with her,” he said, arguing sports medicine could be further developed in the city to enhance the health of athletes.

Hong Kong Fencing Association chairman Yeung Wing-sun, said Kong’s gold medal could serve as a further boost for fencing’s potential in the future.
The number of people interested in fencing had increased by 30 per cent since Cheung’s victory in 2021, with Kong’s victory possibly helping to maintain the trend, he said.
“It will also be beneficial to the development of fencing in Hong Kong,” he said. “Kong’s medal gave us another assurance.”
He added that the outstanding performance of Hong Kong athletes, including Kong, in recent Olympic events had served as a “morale booster” for those developing the sports sector.
On the economic front, Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades president Simon Wong Ka-wo said he had noticed a 20 per cent increase in the overall business of eateries over the past weekend.
He said he expected a 15 to 20 per cent rise throughout the Games.
Wong also noted that more people had begun watching the Games at shopping malls since Sunday afternoon, suggesting more Hongkongers could be staying home over the weekend instead of travelling to mainland China due to the Olympics.


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Hong Kong sports

Vivian Kong’s Olympic win can turn fencing into Hong Kong’s signature sport, expert says

Vivian Kong (right) may help to establish fencing as Hong Kong’s “signature sport”, an expert has said. Photo: Handout

Gold medalist Vivian Kong poses for photos during an awards ceremony at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

Physical health expert Lobo Louie has suggested the city invest more in other sports fields to improve the performance of local athletes. Photo: Elson Li

Vivian Kong’s gold at Paris Games inspires more girls to enrol in Hong Kong fencing schools

Vivian Kong came back from a six point deficit to win 13-12 in sudden death against her French opponent and clinch Hong Kong’s first gold medal of the Paris games. Photo: Xinhua

Students practice fencing at Po Leung Kuk Riverain Primary School in this file photo: Photo: Felix Wong

Paris Olympics: Vivian Kong’s historic gold sparks day of celebration in Hong Kong

Vivian Kong said she drew on the “Hong Kong spirit” to bring home her Olympic gold. Photo: SF&OC

Vivian Kong’s stunning triumph draws a crowd even at 4am at Olympian City in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: Edmond So

Chief Executive John Lee speaks at Hong Kong airport on Sunday before his Asean trip. Photo: Edmond So

People watch Siobhan Haughey swim at the Olympic display outside Sogo in Causeway Bay. Photo: Edmond So

Vivian Kong’s Olympic gold medal lauded as ‘glory for the Chinese’ – social media reacts

Vivian Kong celebrates after her sensational victory against France’s Auriane Mallo-Breton to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Social media users on the mainland jokes Vivian Kong’s victory was also a triumph for China. Photo: Xinhua

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Hong Kong

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Sport

Academic also says win represents ‘important milestone’ for city’s developments of sport, training, as well as sports science and medicine


Academic also says win represents ‘important milestone’ for city’s developments of sport, training, as well as sports science and medicine.
