Coach Perry puts Asian Games hopefuls through their paces

Fenella Ng Gar-loc did not race competitively at this weekend's Hong Kong Rowing Championships, but the SAR's top Asian Games medal hopeful was still churning out the metres in training as she strives to reach peak form before next month's Games in Bangkok.

Ng's participation at the 20th annual event was curtailed to coxing her club team - Sha Tin Sports Association - in the open eights competition.

The lightweight sculler was unable to coax her team to success as they finished runners-up to the powerful crew from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in the final yesterday afternoon. But the competition did not prevent her - or the rest of the Hong Kong team - from turning up for a bright and early start at the Shing Mun venue for a regular training run.

'Our training continued despite the Championships,' said Hong Kong coach Chris Perry.

'We started both days early at 6 am and did some tough runs. I'm glad that she did not have to race competitively as the training was pretty rigorous.' So, from dawn till dusk this weekend Ng was involved in rowing - even if her involvement during the day was mostly as a spectator-cum-coxswain.

The Asian Games rowing events will begin on the December 16 in Pattaya.

Ng is a leading contender to win a medal in the women's lightweight sculls. What hue is the question.