Tokyo Olympics: Vivian Kong moves within one bout of a medal shot as she progresses to the quarter-finals
- Kong faces surprise package Aizanat Murtazaeva of the Russian Olympic Committee in the quarter-finals
- ‘I just want to make Hong Kong proud so I’ll keep going, I’ll keep trying,’ says the 27-year-old
Kong came through a cagey first two rounds against Poland’s Renata Knapik-Miazga to press home the advantage in the third and book her spot in the quarter-finals 15-8.
The 27-year-old revealed the slow start, which earned the pair a red card each from the referee for inactivity, was more strategic than indicative of any lack of confidence.
“I really like her as a fencer and as a friend and she’s a really strong fencer,” Kong said. “I feel better now. I was able to enjoy the competition [in this match].”
Kong edged 3-1 in front by the end of the first round, but the chess match continued into the second period with neither fencer wanting to commit to attack. Kong led 6-4 at the end of round two.
Round three was a departure from the cagey opening with Kong advancing with gusto and eventually proving too strong for her friend Knapik-Miazga.
“I feel better than the first bout,” Kong said. “I hope the next one will be better.”
The 27-year-old, however, is not getting carried away. She set herself a modest target as she progressed through the draw.
“I just want to fence better than in my previous match, so this time I was able to do that. So I hope I can fence even better in the next one,” Kong said.
“I just want to make Hong Kong proud so I’ll keep going, I’ll keep trying.”
Kong now stands one win away from a crack at becoming just Hong Kong’s fourth Olympic medal winner.
In the last eight, she will face Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan’s conqueror from earlier on Saturday in surprise package Aizanat Murtazaeva of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Murtazaeva, comfortably the lowest-ranked fencer in the field at world No 258, has made a stunning run to the quarters after beating Hsieh, world No 2 Choi Injeong of Korea and three-time Pan American champion Kelley Hurley of the USA in the last round.
