Hong Kong vaulter Shek Wai-hung out of World Cup series’ second event in Doha after positive Covid-19 test

The 30-year-old is isolating in hotel with teammate Ng Ka Ki after withdrawing from last weekend’s vaulting final in Cottbus, Germany

Pair have no symptoms, and hope to return for the third event of World Cup series in Cairo, Egypt later this month

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Gymnast Shek Wai-hung during a training session ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Published: 9:15am, 2 Mar 2022

Hong Kong’s Shek Wai-hung will miss the second event of the FIG Apparatus World Cup in Doha after withdrawing from last weekend’s vaulting final in Cottbus, Germany because of a Covid-19 positive.

The 30-year-old had flown with the Hong Kong team to Germany last month for the first of four events in the 2022 World Cup series.

Shek finished third in last Friday’s preliminary round after performing his “Ri Se-gwang” routine, posting an average score of 14.549 points after two jumps, and qualifying for February 27’s final.

Hong Kong’s Shek Wai Hung competes on the vault during the men’s artistic gymnastics event at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: DPA

But Shek suddenly withdrew without announcing a reason, in what was another huge blow for the back-to-back Asian Games champion after having to drop out of last summer’s Tokyo Olympics with an ankle injury.

The Gymnastics Association of Hong Kong confirmed on Tuesday that Shek had tested positive for Covid-19 before the final.

He is staying in isolation for seven days with artistic gymnastics teammate Ng Ka Ki – who also tested positive – at the team hotel in Cottbus, where coach Sergiy Agafontsev has remained.

Shek told the Post on Tuesday he had received a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before leaving for Germany on February 21.

Hong Kong vaulter Shek Wai-hung out of World Cup series’ second event in Doha after positive Covid-19 test

The 30-year-old is isolating in hotel with teammate Ng Ka Ki after withdrawing from last weekend’s vaulting final in Cottbus, Germany Pair have no symptoms, and hope to return for the third event of World Cup series in Cairo, Egypt later this month

The 30-year-old is isolating in hotel with teammate Ng Ka Ki after withdrawing from last weekend’s vaulting final in Cottbus, Germany

Pair have no symptoms, and hope to return for the third event of World Cup series in Cairo, Egypt later this month