Ko Lai-chak, who helped Hong Kong win a silver medal in the men's doubles table tennis event at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, has retired.
'I am not young any more and should give the chance to others, especially those up-and-comers,' Ko, 35, said on the eve of the Hong Kong team leaving for the Asian championships in Macau.
'I won't try for the third spot on the Hong Kong team for the London Olympics Games as I know it is difficult for me to compete at the highest level now.'
A former China national team member, the Guangdong-born, pen-hold grip player arrived in Hong Kong in 2000 with Li Ching. They joined forces to become Hong Kong's top doubles pair and captured silver after losing to Chen Qi and Ma Lin of China in the Athens final.
Two years later, they won gold in the doubles at the Doha Asian Games against the same mainland pair.
'There are many great moments in my career, but the Olympic medal, of course, remains the most important of all,' he said.