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Vivian Kong Man-wai
SportHong Kong

Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong closing in on world number one spot after second gold in a month

  • The 25-year-old is only 13 points behind ranking leader Mara Navarria of Italy before they meet again in Budapest next month
  • Kong rushes back to gym to work on physical side after repeatedly hit by opponents in Barcelona

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Vivian Kong Man-wai (left) faces Lee Hye-in of South Korea in the final in Barcelona. Photo: Facebook/FEI
Chan Kin-wa
Five years after capturing her first world cup series medal, Vivian Kong Man-wai now believes the world number one spot is not just a dream but a real target for the city’s top fencer.

“I really want to get [the world number one spot] and it’s my biggest target before the Tokyo Olympic Games,” said the 25-year-old, who returned to Hong Kong on Tuesday after celebrating her birthday amid her success in the individual epee at the world cup series in Barcelona over the weekend.

“But to achieve the target, I must be very consistent on the tour, I have to reach the top 16 at least in each event and not like the way I played in Doha where I lost in the opening round of the grand prix event.”
Vivian Kong Man-wai returns with her trophy after winning gold in the Barcelona world cup series. Photo: Chan Kin-wa
Vivian Kong Man-wai returns with her trophy after winning gold in the Barcelona world cup series. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

After beating Lee Hye-in of South Korea 15-12 in the Barcelona final, Kong closed the gap on world number one Mara Navarria of Italy to a mere 13 points.

The duo is likely to meet again in next month’s second grand prix of the season in Budapest where Kong has a realistic chance of overtaking the Italian to become the first world number one fencer from Hong Kong.

Kong collected 32 ranking points for her victory in Barcelona where Navarria claimed only eight for finishing in ninth place. The grand prix offers more ranking points than a world cup event.

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