World Aquatics Championships: Siobhan Haughey out to break Hong Kong’s long-course medal drought in Fukuoka
- 25-year-old finished fourth in 200m in 2019 edition and missed last event in Budapest because of injury
- Hong Kong is sending a squad of 9 to the championships and is targeting Olympic qualification in 4x100m relay
Siobhan Haughey has some unfinished business with the World Aquatics Championships in Japan, where she will be attempting to win Hong Kong’s first medal at the long-course competition.
A double Olympic silver medallist, short-course world champion and record holder, Haughey has yet to claim a medal at the championships after finishing fourth in 2019 and missing last year’s event in Budapest through injury.
But the 25-year-old heads into the competition in Fukuoka on the back of an impressive season, during which she has reached the Olympic qualifying A standard four times in 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m, and claimed several titles in Europe on the three-stage Mare Nostrum Tour and the Settle Colli Trophy.
Her form puts her among the favourites when the swimming events begin at the Marine Messe Fukuoka on Sunday.
Hong Kong head swimming coach Chen Jianhong said Haughey was on course to “hit her peak form” in Fukuoka, where she will swim in only two individual events, the 100m and 200m freestyle.
Haughey may also be part of the team that takes part in the two 4x100 metre relays, as Hong Kong tries to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
