Dedication pays HK stars in silver and bronze
Hong Kong-born wushu exponents To Yu-hang and Cheng Ka-ho yesterday proved that years of hard work and perseverance do pay off when they won silver and bronze medals respectively. To won silver in the men's changquan three events combined, while Cheng took bronze in the men's nanquan three events combined on the penultimate day of competition at the Asiad.
Hong Kong's latest success took their total medal tally to 21, which easily surpassed the 17-medal haul won in Bangkok four years ago. Hong Kong finished 16 days of competition on four golds, six silvers and 11 bronzes as the SAR picked up two more wushu medals to add to the silver Li Fai won on Saturday.
To was delighted with silver, after failing to make an impact in last year's East Asian Games [in Osaka] where he finished ninth in the same event.
The 21-year-old said everything 'clicked' as he took second place to China's outstanding Yuan Xindong, who snatched gold at the Dongseo University Minseok Sports Centre. Arvin Ting of the Philippines was third.
The Hong Kong competitor was lying in silver medal contention after two routines - chanquan and daoshu - split over two days of preliminary action and To needed another high score in his remaining routine in the gunshu to make sure he finished with a medal.
Yuan had set the pace by leading after two events and he was the clear favourite for the gold after a splendid final routine that earned him 9.48 points for a 9.466 point average after three events.
Next up was To, who knew Yuan's routine was a tough act to follow. But he did not disappoint his fans when he scored 9.40 points, which was good enough to hold down second place overall. 'I wanted to keep second place because I knew there was little chance of catching up with Yuan on points because he was far and away the best competitor,' said To whose average score was 9.370 points. 'I had to do my routine rather conservatively because I couldn't afford to make any mistakes and risk losing valuable points. It's a great feeling to win something at the Asian Games.
'This was the one event that I had trained so hard for. I won silver during last year's World Championships, but this is so much more satisfying because the standard at the Asian Games is much higher.
'I didn't let my poor performance at the East Asian Games get me down because I knew all along my hard work would pay off some day. My silver medal here is my reward for all the sacrifices I have made through the years.'
To took up wushu when he was six years old on the advice of his mother. 'I was a sickly child but once I started practising wushu, my health improved and I really stuck with the sport since. I put a lot of time and effort to be where I am now,' he said.
Cheng also had to make a lot of sacrifices as he won bronze in his favoured event in the men's nanquan in an emotional personal triumph.
His younger sister, Ka-wing, who is also on the SAR team, said she was proud to see her elder brother win a medal. 'We have trained together through the years and it's very exciting to see him win a medal at the Asian Games. It has been a great struggle for both of us,' said 19-year-old Ka-wing.
Cheng, 23, was overjoyed by his latest success. 'I won gold in this event at the 1999 World Championships, but there is nothing like winning a medal at the Asian Games. Nothing compares with the Asian Games,' said Cheng, who trains up to six hours a day.
'The stick [nanquan] I was using in my routine was specially bought by my father many years ago. We took great care of it through the years. But the person who really inspired me to take up the sport is my grandfather.
'My grandfather, who is now over 80 years old, is a true martial artist and he still practices the sport to this very day. I am going to phone him to tell him that I won bronze,' said Cheng.
Cheng finished behind Malaysia's gold medal winner, Ho Ro Bin [9.426 point average], and China's Hu Lifeng [9.400], who took silver. 'Ho is a first-class wushu exponent who is very experienced. You can see the beautiful, fluent movements he makes and he deserved the gold,' said Cheng.
Hong Kong coach Li Guangu was pleased that To and Cheng had come of age at the Asiad, saying they had deserved their medals. 'They trained very hard for the Games. They are still very young and we expect big things from them. Wushu may become a medal sport at the 2008 Olympics [in Beijing] and we could win medals from them,' said Li.