Top fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai says she will do everything in her power to adhere to strict Covid-19 health precautions, promising to wear her surgical mask “all the time” and have her meals in her room so that she can complete her second Olympics with the aim of producing a medal.
The Hong Kong star left Hong Kong on Saturday morning, along with her épée teammates and fellow the men’s foil team and other Hong Kong Olympians who will be in action next week at the Tokyo Games.
Kong’s individual épée will take place the following morning after the opening ceremony as the 2019 World Championship bronze medallist kicks off Hong Kong’s medal quest in Tokyo. While the 27-year-old felt excited the Olympic Games looks like it will finally get under way, the Covid-19 situation in the Japanese capital is a big concern for many athletes, not least Kong.
“We have brought along many face masks and a lot of disinfectants to protect our personal hygiene,” said Kong, who is currently ranked seventh in the world. “I am also worried about my coach [Octavian Zidaru] as he takes off his mask to smoke. I have brought a portable air purifier for him.
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“We know the Japanese people are struggling with the pandemic and I don’t want to give them more of a burden. We will wear our face masks all the time and stay in our rooms when eating. We will put all our focus on competition and return to Hong Kong after the event is over.”
Kong, who was the world number one in the 2019 season, said she felt honoured to be considered a medal favourite in Tokyo.
“I went to Rio five years ago having no real expectations and I was care free but I have grown up and all this pressure on me has motivated me to do well,” she said. “I have prepared a lot of secret techniques and will show them all in Tokyo.”
Also taking part in the women’s individual épée will be Youth Olympic double silver medallist Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan, who is preparing to make her Olympics debut in Tokyo having returned from her studies in the United States.
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“I have taken part in the Youth Games before but the Olympic Games is the highest level competition there is,” said the 20-year-old, who lifted a silver medal in her maiden NCAA Championships. “In the Youth Games I only faced fencers who were around my age. Now I have to take on the world’s best fencers in Tokyo. In fact, we haven’t competed against these top fencers for a long time because of the pandemic and it will be a refreshing experience for us.
“I’m not worrying too much about the pandemic because the Covid-19 confirmed cases were once very high in the United States and we are going to play under a [safety] bubble in Tokyo which should make it safe for us.”
The épée team also features Coco Lin Yik-hei and Chu Ka-mong and the former will join the two others in the individual event while Chu will only compete in the team competition.
The local men’s foil team also remained upbeat as they were about to board their flight to Tokyo. The men’s foil team will also be challenging for a medal in both the individual and team event. Cheung Ka-kong, who will be one of two flag bearers for Hong Kong at the opening ceremony, has high hopes for the team.
“We have proven that we can win medals in other major events such as World Cup. The Olympic Games will be another major event and we will face the same fencers,” said Cheung, the only team member who competed at he Rio Games where he reached the second round. “Our coach said there are two different types of people who go to the Olympics – those who go to the Games to enjoy themselves and those who go there to win medals. We are going to Tokyo to win medals.”
Hong Kong will meet Russia in the opening round of the team foil and if they can get past the Europeans, they will be in the semi-finals where they will have a chance to challenge for a medal.
Also in the team foil is fast improving Choi Chun-yin, the world number eight and veteran Cheung Siu-lun, who will make his Olympic debut at the age of 35. Lawrence Ng Lok-wang completes the squad but will not compete in the individual event.
Other teams who left on Saturday include table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, rowing and cycling road race. The swimming squad will leave on Tuesday while the track cycling team, headed by another medal hopeful, Sarah Lee Wai-sze, will depart after the opening ceremony on July 27.
