Hong Kong hurdlers kick off European tour with sights firmly fixed on Hangzhou Asian Games selection
- Mui Ching-yeung, Cheung Wang-fung and Vera Lui Lai-yiu to compete at Thionville meet in France on Saturday
- Trio have been based in Saarbrucken, Germany for training since last month to get away from pandemic-hit Hong Kong
Men’s hurdlers Mui Ching-yeung and Cheung Wang-fung will look to seal their place at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games as they kick off their European training tour with the first competition in Thionville, France on Saturday.
With 2020 Tokyo Olympic athlete Chan Chung-wang missing the Hangzhou Games because of studies, Mui and Cheung top the list of Hong Kong representatives, provided they can hold off challenges from some younger athletes.
“We will be looking for a good start to the tour,” said coach Tang Hon-sing, who accompanied a group to Europe that also includes top women’s hurdler Vera Lui Lai-yiu.
“The two men’s athletes have fine-tuned their form since arriving in Europe and with the help of overseas competitors, we hope they can get a result.”
Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) vice-chairman Simon Yeung Sai-mo said the pair must prove they are better than those hurdlers who stay in Hong Kong for training and competitions.
“We have submitted a number of men’s hurdlers for the Hangzhou Games and will trim down the list to two by the end of May,” said Yeung, who is also director of the HKAAA’s selection committee. “We will assess the results of all these hurdlers during this period before making a final decision.”
