Hong Kong Marathon: rising star Wong Cheuk-ning tipped for glory by defending champion
- Runner-up in 2021, the 22-year-old is favourite to be the first local woman to finish Sunday’s race
- Christy Yiu, who is expecting her second child in April, is unable to defend her title
Rising star Wong Cheuk-ning has been tipped to be the first local female to cross the finish line at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday, after winning the city’s 10k championships last month.
Marathon record holder Christy Yiu Kit-ching, who won the 2021 race in the absence of overseas runners but won’t defend her title because she is pregnant, said the 22-year-old’s “outstanding” form made her the favourite.
Wong, who first ran in the flagship event in the 10k race in 2018, finished second in her first city marathon two years ago in 2 hours 43 minutes and 17 seconds, one place and four minutes behind Yiu.
“We all know the Hong Kong Marathon is the biggest running event here, and I remember being very nervous the first year I ran this mega event,” Wong said.
“However, after setting a personal best in the 10k that year, I was inspired to continue running long distances.”
Yiu, who is expecting her second child in April, said Wong’s decision to switch to training full time had increased her chances of “succeeding me for first place this year”.
