Fencing World Cup Fujairah: South Korea’s Sera Song strikes back at Hong Kong’s Vivian Kong with sudden-death épée win
- A week after taking Song’s world No 1 ranking, Kong is unable to deny her victory in their clash in the United Arab Emirates
- Song recovers to force sudden death in épée final and goes on to prevail
World No 1 Vivian Kong Man-wai was one win short of triumphing in back-to-back épée events for the first time in her career as she came second at the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
Kong returned to the top of the rankings two weeks ago at the expense of South Korean fencer Sera Song, but was this time unable to displace the reigning world champion, losing 14-13.
In her third final of the season, having also reached one in Vancouver last December, 29-year-old Kong found herself on the back foot when Song pulled off a 5-1 run to lead 9-6.
The Hongkonger responded with a 5-1 run of her own, only for Song to tie it at 13 apiece with 30 seconds to go, sending it into sudden death. It was Song who clinched it.
Kong had received a bye to the round of 64 and soon found herself in the last eight after edging past Naiara Aldana of Spain, Lim Joo-mi of South Korea and Japanese veteran Nozommi Sato.