Mother really does know best. In 2003, when Hong Kong was reeling from the devastating consequences of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak, Michael Cheng Chun-leung's mother made a decision that would change her son's life forever.
'I was a swimmer in those days,' Cheng, now 16, said. 'But all of a sudden my training sessions were suspended because of Sars. There was a danger that I could contract the terrible virus in the swimming pool. My mother insisted, however, that I should still be involved in sports and enrolled me in a windsurfing course.'
That proved to be a real eye-opener for the young Cheng, who tomorrow begins his quest to win a medal for Hong Kong at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
After his recent third-place finish at the Techno Junior Windsurfing World Championships in France, Cheng is considered a realistic medal hopeful at the inaugural Youth Games, whose spectacular opening ceremony last night was attended by Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.
'In 2003, many parents felt it was unsafe for their children to gather in large groups or participate in activities that might lead to the spread of Sars,' Cheng's mother, Jackie Wong Mei-ha, said. 'But I love windsurfing very much and it was an opportunity for Michael to take up the sport. There was little chance of catching Sars out on the open sea.
'I am also a windsurfer, so taking Michael to his training sessions was a lot of fun. I did worry that he might find the training too tough but he took to the sport almost immediately.'
However, she never imagined that Cheng would rise to the levels he has today. Cheng is one of only 14 Hong Kong athletes competing in Singapore, where 3,600 participants, aged between 14 and 18, will vie for 184 gold medals in 26 sports over 12 days.