Hong Kong’s left-handed épée fencer Vivian Kong Man Wai (born February 8, 1994) has won two individual Asian titles and competed in the Olympics twice.
Kong has participated in two Olympic Games: the 2016 event in Rio de Janeiro and the upcoming 2020 event in Tokyo.
In January of 2019, at the FIE Women’s Épée World Cup in Havana, Cuba, Kong made history by being the first fencer from Hong Kong to win a World Cup title.
Tokyo 2020: Vivian Kong Ready to ‘Embrace 2021 Olympic Games’, Reflecting on ‘What Matters Most’ Amid Covid-19 Pandemic
Vivian Kong Man-wai, a Hong Kong fencer ranked seventh in the world, believes that the devastating Covid-19 pandemic touches human beings more deeply than the Olympic Games ever could.
The epee expert, who was one of Hong Kong’s best bets for a medal at the postponed Tokyo Olympics, adopted a philosophical approach to having to wait another year to realise her Olympic dreams.
The former world number one is seeing the postponement of the Olympics as a chance for reflection rather than wallowing in the disappointment of maybe dashed hopes.
The 26-year-old, a regular yoga practitioner, is one of thousands of athletes around the world trying to come to grips with the extraordinary.
But expected, decision by the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday to postpone the Tokyo Games.
After more than 400,000 cases of Covid-19 infections and more than 18,300 deaths worldwide, the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo organisers opted to push back the Games from July 24 to August 9 by a year.
Tokyo Olympics: Medal Hope Vivian Kong Misses out on Podium Shot as underdog Murtazaeva Collects Second Hong Kong Scalp
Hong Kong’s best individual épée hope, Vivian Kong Man-wai, was eliminated from medal contention on Saturday after a shocking loss to the lowest-ranked fencer in the field.
The 27-year-old might be looking at his best opportunity ever.
Aizanat Murtazaeva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, is swiftly becoming the story of the first day of competition at the Makuhari Messe Hall.
After continuing her unexpected run to the medal stages with a 15-10 win against the world No. 7.
The Russian had previously beaten a teenage Hong Kong fighter named Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan, thus Kong was her second victory of the day.
Likely unsurprisingly, Kong said she has never faced a competitor quite like the 19-year-old Muscovite.
Conclusion
To Kong Man Wai Vivian, the ups and downs of athletic competition are the yin and yang of her success.
For example: “As an athlete, I always fail to eventually build up the wins,” Kong said to Tokyo 2020. Kong is all too familiar with the highs and lows of the elite fencing world.
She became the first fencer from Hong Kong to ever be ranked as the world’s best after winning gold at the World Cup events.
In Havana and Barcelona and bronze at the World Championships in Budapest last year.
