Asian Games 2018: fencer Vivian Kong ‘honoured’ to carry Hong Kong flag at opening ceremony
The 24-year-old is the Asian epee champion and among the favourites to capture gold for the city in Jakarta
Fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai will carry the Hong Kong flag at the Asian Games 2018 opening ceremony on Saturday, a worthy representative after some impressive results in Asia and the Olympics.
Hong Kong chef de mission Herman Hu Shao-ming said one of the reasons the 24-year-old was chosen was because she will physically be in Jakarta, while many of Hong Kong’s 580-odd athletes have yet to arrive in the Indonesian capital.
But Hu pointed out that Kong deserved the chance to carry the Hong Kong flag because of her performances, irrespective of who else was present in Jakarta.
“It’s a huge honour and I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” said Kong, who finished 11th at the Rio Olympic Games in the epee individual and won bronze in the epee individual and team events at the Incheon Games in 2014.
“Thank you to the fencing team and the committee for choosing me and I am humbled by this responsibility. Wishing our Hong Kong team all the best.”