Hong Kong’s Cecilia Yeung hoping Portugal trip can lift her to greater heights, as she targets Asian Games spot
- Yeung holds city’s high jump record of 1.88m but believes she can break 2m barrier
- The elite athlete has spent the past two years recovering from a potentially career-ending Achilles injury
Hong Kong athlete Cecilia Yeung Man-wai leaves for a critical three-month training camp in Portugal on Friday, as she looks to regain her best form and secure a spot at the Asian Games.
The high jump star managed just four attempts last year as she continued her rehabilitation from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury sustained in 2019, and a best result of 1.75m at the National Games was well below the Hong Kong record of 1.88m she set in Taipei in 2017.
And despite picking up an injury to her right ankle, Yueng believes that not only can she match her personal best, but with the help of new coach Rolf Ohman can smash the mark and clear the 2m barrier in the process.
“I know I can clear 2m in the future, but I’ll take it one at a time, with the training and competitions in Portugal,” she said. “I hope I can go back to 1.80m first, then 1.90m with the help of the new coach.”
Yeung’s main goal this year is the Asian Games in September, but with all local competitions cancelled or delayed because of Covid-19, she is counting on time in Europe with Ohman to take her to the next level.
“I haven’t told anybody about my injury, and it was happening even during the National Games last September,” Yeung said. “Whenever I jump off with my right foot, the right ankle hurts, and it has become more serious recently.
“They call it footballer’s ankle. I did quite well with gym work, but when it comes to jumping, it hurts again, so I stopped jumping for the last two months.”
