Hong Kong fencers set their sights on breakthrough victory in Rio
City has never gone past the first round in an Olympics before but foilist Cheung Ka-long and women’s epeeist Vivian Kong could change all that
Hong Kong fencers are looking for a major breakthrough in the Olympic Games with two young athletes harbouring high hopes of success in Rio de Janeiro.
Never has an athlete from Hong Kong returned with victory in an Olympic bout, but 19-year-old Edgar Cheung Ka-long in the men’s foil and 22-year-old teammate Vivian Kong Man-wai, in the women’s epee, are being tipped to break that trend.
“We are not looking at the duo to win an Olympic medal as they still need more exposure at the highest level,” said fencing coach Zheng Zhaokang from the Sports Institute .
“But both of them have chances of winning a match and breaking new ground for Hong Kong. Of course, it also depends on the draw and who they are going to meet, whether they face an opponent that fits their style.”
Zheng said if the two fencers do well in Rio, they can look forward to a promising future.
“They still lack some of the exposure at the highest level and the Olympics will provide them the best possible environment so they can become a better quality fencer, capable of winning at the top level,” Zheng added.