Latest news with #VivianKongMan-wai
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Can Hong Kong's Olympic gold formula for fencing work again in cycling?
Hong Kong's elite cycling set-up has been revamped with the aim of copying the formula that turned the city's leading fencers into world-beaters. Advertisement A high-end recruitment policy that brought in best practices from farther afield helped to power Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai to Olympic fencing glory last summer. Now, Hong Kong is applying the logic to velodromes and pelotons. The late-2023 exit of cycling head coach Shen Jinkang after 29 years in the post prompted a regime overhaul. Herve Dagorne, a two-time Olympian from France, was appointed as Shen's successor. New Zealander Anthony Peden has since become sprint coach, and Ben Kersten, from Australia, the road endurance coach. A common thread? Looking outside the previous sphere of influence for personnel and knowledge. Bradley McGee, an Olympic team pursuit gold medallist in 2004 with Australia, attended the Hong Kong International Track Cup on Monday and could be the next high-profile appointment. Octavian Zidaru celebrates with Vivian Kong after the Hongkonger claimed Olympic fencing gold. Photo: AP 'I will meet [McGee], along with Herve; [whether he joins] is not just about if we want to hire him, it's if he wants to live in the city,' Leung Hung-tak, chairman of the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China, said.
South China Morning Post
17-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Sports Stars: golden Olympic duo Vivian Kong, Cheung Ka-long win top awards
Olympic champion Vivian Kong Man-wai was crowned women's 'best of the best' at the Cathay 2024 Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards on Thursday, ending the three-year reign of fellow Paris Games star Siobhan Haughey. Advertisement There was no displacing Cheung Ka-long in the men's category, however, as the city's fencing king claimed the personal honour for a fourth straight year, in recognition of the successful defence of his Olympic foil title last summer. During a one-month voting period, judging panels, the media and the public selected five men's and five women's sports stars from 38 and 36 nominations respectively. Along with Kong, the women's honours went to Haughey, who earned 100 and 200 metres freestyle bronze in the French capital, table tennis' Doo Hoi-kem, the karateka Grace Lau Mo-sheung, and Ho Yuen-kei, a double Paralympics boccia gold medallist last year. Kong, 31, beat her fellow winners to the top prize during the ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, attended by Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk Wing-hing and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui. Advertisement Last July, Kong became the city's first female Olympic fencing gold medallist when she sensationally recovered from 7-1 down against French rival Auriane Mallo-Breton to win her épée final 13-12.
South China Morning Post
04-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park must achieve highest standards to succeed
Hong Kong's old Kai Tak airport, which recorded its first flight 100 years ago, became a famous landmark, welcoming visitors from around the world until its closure in 1998. Advertisement Now, the city hopes a new HK$30 billion (US$3.9 billion) sports and entertainment complex on the site will serve a similar purpose, drawing crowds for a glittering array of 'mega-events'. The official opening of Kai Tak Sports Park on Saturday, offering a star-studded performance, was a proud moment. It has been a long time coming. The idea was first floated in 2007. Martial arts hero Donnie Yen Ji-dan faced off against Olympic gold medal winner Vivian Kong Man-wai in a fencing duel. Along with Cantopop queen Joey Yung Cho-yee, they were among the popular performers who joined Hong Kong and mainland athletes for more than two hours of entertainment. Advertisement This first real test for the stadium, which can accommodate 50,000 spectators, generally went smoothly. That was good to see, but bigger events are to come. Less than 34,000 people attended, well below capacity.
