Coach plans Euro trip in Olympic bid

HONG KONG coach Chan Chi-choi has to rearrange the schedule of his top players in a desperate bid to consolidate their positions in this year's Atlanta Olympic Games.

Chan Siu-kwong and Tim He Yiming are 20th in the men's doubles world rankings, while He and Chan Oi-ni are 18th in mixed doubles.

Both Hong Kong combinations are hovering at the cut-off mark because only the top 20 men's pairs and top 17 mixed teams on March 31 go through to Atlanta.

Coach Chan had hoped to keep the trio in Hong Kong to prepare for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup team events but they are now heading for competition in Europe.

Said Chan: 'We would definitely not make it to the Olympic Games with our current rankings because there are several tournaments before March 31.

'We want to see the Hong Kong flag flying in the badminton arena at Atlanta, so now we have to send the three to the All-England and Swedish and Swiss Opens.'