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SCMP Sport

Mongolia has sent a team of trail runners for Saturday’s Bupa Global Lantau 50 Asian Skyrunning Championship race – the first time it has done so, and with a severe climb in temperature awaiting them.
The thermometer this week plunged to a low of -27 degrees Celsius (-17 Fahrenheit) in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, some 50 degrees Celsius lower than Hong Kong has experienced.
“Extreme weather between -10 and -20 for my training” said Gantulga Myagmarjav, who trains in Uvs province in western Mongolia and is entering the 27km (17-mile) men’s category. “I will do my best and see how my result will be among other Asian skyrunning athletes.”
Some returning athletes will be aiming to recapture past glories.

Takako Takamura of Japan, who finished fifth at the World Championship last year, will be looking for a repeat of her Lantau win in 2016.
“Since it’s going be my last overseas race of the year, I want to give it my all,” she said.
Another 2016 women’s champion, in the 50km event, Sunmaya Budha of Nepal is switching to the 27km race this year.
Alongside the overseas competitors are local runners hoping to contend for honours, but for one of them, Chan Ho-man, finishing the race is the only objective.
“I almost died during Covid,” Chan said. “It was very bad, I went to the hospital for 15 days in 2021 and missed the Lantau 50 race. [This year’s event is] redemption time.
“I had unfinished business. I needed to train for over one year to get my body to around 80 per cent [of its previous level of fitness]. Since then, I still haven’t recovered.
“I am joining this again to try to see where my level is after finishing a 15km and 23km race recently, so I’m hoping I can finish the 27km.”
Another Hongkonger, Karen Cheung Man-yee, is no stranger to the podium, but she will be fighting exhaustion and sore legs after winning the women’s team category at the Oxfam Trailwalker 100km event last week.
Also making an appearance is Hong Kong-born Flora Ching Wing-yee, who has opted for the 27km distance after finishing second in the women’s category in last month’s opening leg of the Hong Kong 50 Series.
“I always enjoy Lantau, it’s such a nice course with great views,” Ching said. “But at the same time, it’s technical and challenging as well.”

The event includes three distance categories: 16km, 27km and 51km Ultra Skymarathon.
The 51km course, which was reduced from 54km because of landslides along the trail, will begin at 6.30am.
Starting from Man Tung Road Park in Tung Chung, runners will gain 3,000 metres of elevation as the trail takes in portions on Lantau Peak (934m) and Sunset Peak (800m). There is a 12-hour cut-off period for finishers.


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Hong Kong Athletics Championships

Bupa Global Lantau 50 Asian Skyrunning Championship: Mongolian runners face 50 degrees Celsius drop

Athletes are arriving from overseas for the annual Lantau 50 Asian Skyrunning Championship. Photo: Handout

The 51km Ultra Skymarathon was reduced from 54km because of landslides. Photo: Action Asia

Runners participating in the 51km race will climb Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak. Photo: Action Asia

TransLantau by UTMB: Britain’s Tom Joly wins, with China’s Xiang Fuzhao first woman

Cheung Man-yee is able to raise a smile at the finish line. Photo: Handout

TransLantau by UTMB: visually impaired Hong Kong runner takes on 25km race to show ‘we can’

Liang Zhang (left) is a visually impaired runner taking on the TransLantau. Photo: Handout

Liang Zhang (right) at the Fearless Dragon running club Photo: Handout

Fearless Dragon running club on the trails. Photo: Handout 

Sport

Local runners joined by overseas contenders for 16km, 27km and 51km races, scaling Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak
Mongolia has sent a team of runners for Saturday’s race for the first time, after training in -27 degrees Celsius (-17 Fahrenheit)


Local runners joined by overseas contenders for 16km, 27km and 51km races, scaling Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak.


Bupa Global Lantau 50 Asian Skyrunning Championship: Mongolian runners face 50 degrees Celsius drop

Local runners joined by overseas contenders for 16km, 27km and 51km races, scaling Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak Mongolia has sent a team of runners for Saturday’s race for the first time, after training in -27 degrees Celsius (-17 Fahrenheit)

Local runners joined by overseas contenders for 16km, 27km and 51km races, scaling Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak

Mongolia has sent a team of runners for Saturday’s race for the first time, after training in -27 degrees Celsius (-17 Fahrenheit)