By Juliette Jabkhiro

PARIS (Reuters) -Hong Kong’s fencing queen Vivian Kong claimed her first Olympic gold medal in a nerve-wracking bout against local favourite Auriane Mallo-Breton of France in the women’s epee at the Paris Games on Saturday.

Kong, who prevailed 13-12 in sudden death, was in floods of tears after coming back from six touches down.

“I just thought I was going to lose but I didn’t want it to be so badly so I just tried to enjoy the stage,” the world number one said.

Eszter Muhari of Hungary took bronze.

On a good day for Asian fencers, Kong rallied from 7-1 down to end her French opponent’s hopes in front of French President Emmanuel Macron, who took his place in the stands as Mallo-Breton was seemingly cruising to victory.

Oh Sanguk of South Korea won gold in the men’s sabre individual event against Tunisia’s Fares Ferjani with Italian Luigi Samele taking bronze.

(Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro; Editing by Toby Davis)

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