Fencing star Vivian Kong returns to a hero’s welcome after becoming the new world No 1
- The 25-year-old is one of the few Hong Kong athletes to have reached the top spot in an Olympic sport
- Her top ranking should boost her confidence for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo
Fencing star Vivian Kong Man-wai has joined an elite club by becoming one of the few Hong Kong athletes to be ranked world number one in an Olympic sport.
Kong had been sitting in the number two spot for two months after her World Cup victory in Havana, Cuba in January and despite finishing 17th in her latest venture in Budapest, she made Hong Kong history by toppling Italy’s Mara Navarria, the reigning world champion, for the coveted top spot in women’s épée. Kong was beaten by world number 95 Eszter Muhari in Budapest, but the result didn’t matter in the end.
Kong returned to a hero’s welcome on Tuesday afternoon at Hong Kong International Airport, where she was greeted by a horde of reporters.
A teary Kong said she will work harder with less than 500 days to go before the Tokyo Olympics.
“I will prepare myself for the coming competitions and of course I will prepare myself for the Olympics,” said Kong. “I will do my best for my coming competitions and my training,” she said.
