Vivian Kong’s Olympic win can turn fencing into Hong Kong’s signature sport, expert says

Academic also says win represents ‘important milestone’ for city’s developments of sport, training, as well as sports science and medicine

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Vivian Kong (right) may help to establish fencing as Hong Kong’s “signature sport”, an expert has said. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:07pm, 29 Jul 2024Updated: 7:47pm, 29 Jul 2024

Hong Kong can make fencing its signature sport after Vivian Kong Man-wai’s landmark victory at the Paris Olympics, an expert has said, adding the gold medal win may further promote the local development of sports medicine and science.

Lobo Louie Hung-tak, senior lecturer of health and physical education at the Education University of Hong Kong, said on Monday that Kong’s victory had “crucial meanings” in the context of the city’s history of competing in fencing.

He also said the win was an “important milestone” in terms of the city’s developments of sport, supporting teams, training, as well as sports science and medicine.

“Looking back on Hong Kong’s sports development, we are having a harvest season now,” the academic told a radio programme on Monday.

“It is special to see that sports can unite the public, heighten our respect towards athletes, enhance our identity, as well as improve our cohesion and pride during the Olympics … It can be said that fencing has become Hong Kong’s signature sport.”

Kong’s win followed the triumph of fellow fencer Cheung Ka-long in 2021, when he bagged a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.