'Kong's feat inspires people to pursue their dreams'

Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong will inspire young people to follow their dreams and take up sport as a career, according to Hong Kong University physical education lecturer Lobo Louie. Kong, 30, took Hong Kong's third ever Olympics gold when she won the individual women's épée in Paris at the weekend. Louie said the world number one is helping to promote sports development by raising the profile and popularity of fencing. "I think fencing as an Olympic sport has to get established among young people... It (Kong's victory) can encourage more people, especially young people, to engage in physical activity and eventually to improve their overall physical and mental health as well," he said on Monday. Kong pulled out of the Asian Championships quarter-finals last month due to a knee injury, and underwent surgery for torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in 2017 and 2019. Louie said the fencer was lucky to be able to return to elite level after the injuries. "The sports medicine and literature indicates that maybe around 60 to 70 percent of the athletes can return to elite level," he said, adding that full credit for her recovery must go to her medical team for their "very good strategic rehabilitation plan". "In some elite players, or maybe like soccer players, if you have an ACL injury, you may end your football career," Louie noted.