Vivian Kong takes SAR's first gold at Paris Games

Hong Kong's fencing queen Vivian Kong on Sunday won the women's epee gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the most dramatic fashion, defeating local favourite Auriane Mallo-Breton in a fence-off. The Frenchwoman, ranked sixth in the world, started off strong, taking a 7-1 lead in the second round after taking the first 4-0, to the delight of the home crowd at the Grand Palais. With momentum fully on Mallo-Breton's side, world number one Kong changed sword in an apparent attempt to regroup. The Hongkonger then fenced on a 9-3 run to tie the score at 10-10 in the middle of the final period. The fencers took the score to 12-12 for the one-minute fence off, and Kong struck first to take home the SAR's first gold medal at this year's Games. A tearful Kong thanked the fans back in Hong Kong for staying up into the early hours to cheer her on. Kong, 30, lost in the quarter-finals in Tokyo three years ago. It's only the third Hong Kong gold in history and follows fellow fencer Edgar Cheung's foil victory in Tokyo.

Vivian Kong takes SAR's first gold at Paris Games

Vivian Kong takes SAR's first gold at Paris Games

Vivian Kong takes SAR's first gold at Paris Games

Vivian Kong takes SAR's first gold at Paris Games

Vivian Kong takes SAR's first gold at Paris Games