Tokyo Paralympics: disappointment for Hong Kong as defending champion Tang fails to reach final
- Tang was a strong medal hope for Hong Kong and the defending Paralympic champion
Day three of the Tokyo Paralympics began with more disappointment for Hong Kong as top medal hope Tang Wai-lok failed to progress to the final of the men’s 200-metre freestyle swimming.
He won one of Hong Kong’s two gold medals at the 2016 Paralympics.
His time of 1:59.77 in the heats was just the 10th quickest of the round meaning he missed out on the chance to retain his Paralympic crown.
Tang was also eliminated from the 100m butterfly event on Wednesday, when he finished a long way last in qualifying for his least favoured event.
The 24-year-old’s last crack at Tokyo glory will be in the 200m medley, which gets under way on Tuesday.
Disappointment was compounded for Hong Kong soon after when Chan Yui-lam failed to advance in the women’s 200m free. Her time of 2:20.37 meant she was ninth quickest, with eight swimmers progressing to the final.
Chan still has two more events in Tokyo. She races in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday and the 200m medley on Tuesday.
