Territory gets swimming boost
ROBYN Lamsam and Katie Lau King-ting raised Hong Kong's hopes of a medal in the women's 4 ? 100 metres relay with excellent performances in yesterday's 100 metres individual final at the Big Wave Indoor Pool.
Lamsam was fifth in the final, clocking 58.14 seconds, nearly four seconds behind China's gold medallist, Shan Ying.
Lau swam two successive personal best times, 59.74 in her heat and then 59.53 in finishing eighth in the final.
But the significance of the pair's performances lies in the fact that only one South Korean, Lee Bo-eun reached the final. She was seventh in 58.87.
National coach Bill Sweetenham said: 'At the moment, it puts us in front of the Koreans for the relay. China and Japan look too strong for gold and silver, and Hong Kong and Korea are next.
'China, Japan and Hong Kong had two swimmers in the final. Korea had only one.' Sweetenham said Lau will kick off Hong Kong's relay team tomorrow with Lamsam likely to play the anchor role. Vivien Lee Ying-shih and Fenella Ng Gar-loc complete the Hong Kong team.
Shan set an Asian Games record in the event with 54.40, edging out compatriot Lu Bin, who timed 54.42.
US-based Mark Kwok, making his Asian Games debut for Hong Kong, was pulled out of the men's 200 metres freestyle event so that he could concentrate on four other races.
The 17-year-old Kwok will also take part in the 200 metres butterfly, 200 metres individual medley and 400 metres individual medley, which takes place today.
He was also originally entered for the men's 400 metres freestyle.
Lamsam returns to action today in the women's 200 metres event, while Snowie Pang takes to the pool for the women's 200 metres breaststroke.
Youngster Billy Kwok Sze-wai makes his Asian Games debut for Hong Kong tomorrow in the men's 200 metres backstroke event.
Kwok is the only male backstroker in the territory's squad.
