Paris Olympics: Hong Kong’s world No 1 Vivian Kong not letting weight of expectation hamper Games preparation
- Hongkonger’s head coach Octavian Zidaru says there is no more pressure than at any other competition
- The top-ranked épéeist has yet to make it past the quarter-finals in two previous Olympic appearances in Rio and Tokyo
Vivian Kong Man-wai may be heading to the Paris Olympics as one of the world’s top fencers, but Hong Kong head coach Octavian Zidaru does not believe that comes with any extra pressure.
Ranked world No 1 in women’s épée, Kong travels to France with one eye firmly fixed on medal, as it would be with any competition.
And Zidaru said neither the 30-year-old’s ranking, nor performances at previous Olympics, would have a bearing on this year’s Games, declaring his charge ready for the challenge that lies ahead.
“She has enough experience and is mature in terms of her fencing career, she just needs to stay healthy and be optimistic,” the Romanian said.
“The beauty of fencing is each competition is different from the previous one, anything can happen, but we are motivated to do our best.”
Kong made her Olympics debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, where she lost in the round of 16, a year after Zidaru took the helm of the city’s épée team. The left-hander went a step further five years later in Tokyo, but then lost in the quarter-finals.