Give our young guns more opportunities, says Kenneth Fok
Chef de mission says major tournaments would help develop better local athletes
Chef de mission Kenneth Fok Kai-kong called for Hong Kong to host more major competitions to help nurture local athletes after their outstanding performance at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, which close tonight.
Hong Kong finished with four silvers in individual events, and two golds and one bronze in mixed international team events in Nanjing, far surpassing the two silvers won at the inaugural edition in Singapore four years ago.
"Our athletes should try to gain as much competition experience as possible," Fok said. "I know this may be difficult with a busy schooling schedule but experience is what counts in major competition.
"I wish Hong Kong can play host to more major world competitions. The Fina Swimming World Cup [September 29-30] will be coming to Hong Kong after the Asian Games in Incheon and our swimmers are excited about competing in that," he said.
"As Asia's World City we need to catch up and be more proactive in bidding for more world sporting events, allowing more athletes to compete, which will help them grow."
We won medals in a wider spectrum of sports and most of these medals were earned from individual competitions
Hong Kong won individual medals in Nanjing in fencing, swimming and table tennis, and team medals in badminton, fencing and table tennis.