Paris Olympics: Hong Kong fencers risk being caught out in qualifying race
- In women’s épée, only world No 1 Vivian Kong can so far be confident of earning a place at the Paris Games
- Team’s advantage over mainland China in the qualifying race evaporates but they can still make it if they better their compatriots in World Cup in Nanjing
Hong Kong’s fencers are running out of time to seal their places at the Paris Olympics later this year, with a last chance to make sure on offer for the city’s women’s épée squad next month.
World No 1 Vivian Kong Man-wai may yet be Hong Kong’s lone épéeist competing at the Games after she could not translate her individual form into helping the team earn the results they needed to clinch further spots at the weekend.
The World Cup in Nanjing on March 24 is the last team event that will offer Olympic ranking points to allow the likes of Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan, a World University Games gold medallist last year, to join Kong, who is almost assured of being on the plane to France via the world rankings.
As things stand, Hong Kong must avoid being outstripped by their counterparts from China in Nanjing to qualify as the top Asia and Oceania team ranked outside the world’s top four.
After triumphing in the individual event at the World Cup in Barcelona at the weekend, Kong on Sunday could not replicate the sparkling form that had just seen her win back-to-back tournaments.