Hong Kong’s Man Wai Vivian Kong has made it two World Cup victories in a row at the Women’s Epee World Cup in Barcelona, while Poland were too good for Russia in the team event.
After becoming the first Hong Kong fencer to win a World Cup title in Havana, Cuba last month, Man Wai Vivian Kong has repeated the dose in Barcelona, beating another strong field to take another gold. The victory takes her world ranking to a career high 2nd with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics less than eighteen months away.
After comfortably defeating Rio silver medalist and two-time world champion, Rossella Fiamingo of Italy in the table of 16, (15-6) Kong was challenged by Korea’s Sera Song (15-13) in the quarterfinal, but was too good for Estonian veteran Kristina Kuusk, 15-11 in their semifinal.
In the final, 19th-ranked Korean Hyein Lee put up a good fight, but Kong was too strong, outpointing her 15-11 to secure gold. To reach only her second international final (she was also runner-up in Havana in 2018), Lee overcame Poland’s Aleksandra Zamachowska 15-7 and before that Hungary’s Dorina Budai in a closely fought quarter-final, 15-14.
Prior to that, USA fencer Kelley Hurley had opened the draw up by defeating reigning world champion and world number one Mara Navarria of Italy, 15-11. Since winning in China last year, she has struggled to break into the top 8 in international competition, but her loss to the 13th-ranked Hurley was still a surprise, though a great result for the American.
In the team competition, responding to the news of the passing of the ‘Father of Fencing’ in Poland, Zbigniew Czajkowski on Friday, the Polish women took gold. Defeating France 36-29 in their semi, they were then too good for their opponents in the final, Russia, winning by 45-40. Russia had earlier defeated China, 42-36, who then upset France 45-36 to take bronze.
Full Results
Women’s Individual
1. Man Wai Vivian Kong (Hong Kong, Gold)
2. Hyein Lee (Korea, Silver)
3. Kristina Kuusk (Estonia, Bronze)
3. Aleksandra Zamachowska (Poland)
5. Kelley Hurley (USA)
6. Dorina Budai (Hungary)
7. Sera Sing (Korea)
8. Isis Washington (USA)
Full Results on FIE.org
Women’s Team
1. Poland (Gold)
2. Russia (Silver)
3. China (Bronze)
4. France
5. Hungary
6. USA
7. Romania
8. Italy
Full Results on FIE.org