Hong Kong’s Kenneth Cheng makes it into National Games show jumping final despite no support team and rented horse
- The only equestrian representative from the city has no coach or assistance in Xian due to strict quarantine requirements
- Cheng finished an outstanding qualifiers in fourth to reach 24-rider final on his rented horse
Show jumper Kenneth Cheng Man-kit is fighting against the odds as he attempts to further Hong Kong’s glory at the China National Games and he is doing it all alone.
The 33-year-old, Hong Kong’s sole equestrian representative in Xian, has made it to Saturday’s 24-rider final without a support team and on a rented horse. He finished fourth overall in Thursday’s qualifiers.
“We feel quite sorry for our rider because we have no one to accompany him to Xian due to the strict quarantine requirements,” said Angela Kong, secretary general of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation.
“We have to ask for assistance from our mainland counterparts to provide him the support services like a farrier. Even his horse is rented specially for this event. But it’s not only physical support. He has no coach to speak to when he needs, especially when he is facing problems in Xian and therefore we have to contact him on a regular basis to know what’s happening there.”
Despite the difficulties, the official is quite happy with the performance of Cheng, saying he did an exceptional job in the qualifiers to make it into the 24-rider final.
