Lee leads HK medal hopes at Asian event
Top local triathlete Daniel Lee Chi-wo will spearhead Hong Kong's challenge at the Asian Championships, which start today in Jiayuguan, China.
Lee (pictured), Hong Kong's sole open category representative, is part of a 27-strong squad taking part in the two-day event, which is sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU).
The Hong Kong number one, who was last month crowned the top triathlete in China after the ITU Asian Continental Cup in Jinzhou, is aiming at both a podium finish and also valuable ITU ranking points.
But he will have his work cut out to win tomorrow's Olympic distance race.
Kazakhstan's Danill Supanov, currently ranked number one in Asia and who beat Lee in the Jinzhou race, will also compete.
Lee, 29, is currently ranked number four in Asia, one place behind Japan's Yuichi Hosoda, who is also on the start list for tomorrow's race.
Medals are anticipated from the Hong Kong men's under-23 squad with Andrew Wright, Lemuel Lau Ching-yin and three other team members in top form heading into this morning's event.
Tania Mak So-ning is expected to shine in the women?s under-23 category, having also raced well in Jinzhou, where she collected ITU ranking points.
The junior race will be significant for Hong Kong's Ricco Chan Ho-yee, who will be competing in his final junior event before moving up to the under-23 category.
The 20-year-old Chan has raced very well in recent weeks with a first-placed finish in an ITU event in Yicheng at the end of May, and a second place in Jinzhou in July.
Teammate Ho King-fun, who placed third in both Yicheng and Jinzhou, and four other Hong Kong juniors are also expecting good results from this weekend's championships.
Five girls make up the Hong Kong junior women's team in Jiayuguan.
Leanne Szeto Shiu-yan, Vincci Hui Wai-sum, Joyce Cheung Ting-yan, Kitty Wu Kit-ting and Edith Li Yik-lam are all well prepared for the race.
Hui won the Aquathon event at Plover Cove just two weeks ago while Li placed second and Cheung finished third.
Christine Bailey will race in the open category for the first time in this event after moving up from the under-23 age group.
This race will give Bailey the opportunity to test herself in preparation for the World University Triathlon Championships in Lausanne in Switzerland later this month.
