Hong Kong table tennis pair to channel Vivian Kong spirit in quest for Paris Olympic medal

Mixed doubles duo Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem are in the semi-finals and will face North Korea

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Hong Kong’s mixed doubles pair Doo Hoi-kem (left) and Wong Chun-ting are just one victory away from a guaranteed medal. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:15pm, 29 Jul 2024Updated: 5:57pm, 29 Jul 2024

Table tennis mixed doubles pair Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem have promised to channel Vivian Kong Man-wai’s gutsy exploits after moving to within one win of a medal at the Paris Olympics.

Podium hopefuls Doo and Wong took time out to witness compatriot Kong’s golden performance as she overcame home fencer Auriane Mallo-Breton to win épée gold on Saturday.

Following her victory, Kong said it was the “Hong Kong spirit” that drove her, and table tennis duo are hoping to follow suit having also come from behind to win their quarter-final.

“Believe it or not, I somehow felt Kong would pull it off after arriving Paris,” Doo said. “It was just one of those sixth-sense things but I did see that coming.

“She came back from behind to win in the final, just like Cheung Ka-long did in Tokyo before taking gold. We also trailed in our sixth game [on Sunday], so it proved there’s always a chance as long as you don’t give up.”

Doo Hoi-kem (left) and Wong Chun-ting came from behind to win their quarter-final. Photo: Xinhua

A 4-2 comeback win over Spanish duo Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao in the quarter-finals sent the world No 4 pair from Hong Kong to the semi-finals, where they will take on North Koreans Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong.