Hong Kong snooker star Marco Fu Ka-chun is spoilt for choice. Since reaching the British Grand Prix final last month, the 20-year-old has become a celebrity and, along with pocketing GBP32,000 prize money, he has also been brought into the famous Cuemasters' management stable. Now, we hear Fu has the luxury of choosing his own sponsors. Before he made an impression on the pro circuit, Fu had trouble securing sponsors. But that has all changed after his remarkable run at the British Grand Prix, where he knocked off Ronnie O'Sullivan and Peter Ebdon on his way to the final. The reigning world junior and senior amateur champion can now choose what label he wants on his waist-coat. A star has been born - and right here in Hong Kong. Coca-Cola has been quick to acknowledge Fu's rise too. For it has gone ahead and included snooker for the first time in their popular annual competition here - the Hong Kong Coca-Cola Sports Star Awards. With snooker in the frame, there will be hot competition guaranteed. Fu will be one of the favourites to dethrone six-time winner, windsurfer Lee Lai-shan at next year's prestigious awards ceremony. Of course, a lot will depend on how Fu and the rest fare at the Asian Games. We also hope there will not be a repeat of this year when the judges could not make up their minds and decided the top prize would be split between Lee and cyclist Wong Kam-po. A Sports Star of the Year means just that. One person and not two. Not bad. That bunch of pen-pushers at the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union finished the 100-kilometre Trailwalker in the creditable time of 29 hours, 44 minutes. Not as good as the winning firemen team, who finished in 15 hours, 52 minutes, but still our congratulations go out to Beth Coalter, Allan Payne, Bob Brown and outsider Nick Thompson, who stepped in for Bernie Feinberg (we don't know if he was unavailable or if he chickened out). 'My legs are still hurting. But it is not too bad. We got a certificate too,' said Coalter. Not only did the Rugby Ramblers become the 122nd team to finish the gruelling course (760 teams started and only 300-odd finished), they also raised $20,000 for charity. Well done. We couldn't decide which was the better quote of the week. So we will print both. 'When I went to see Fatal Attraction, I never believed it could ever happen to me', Geoff Boycott, the ex-England opener after losing his re-trial in a French court for assaulting his former girlfriend Margaret Moore. 'The only way he will fly to Athens is if he turns into a pigeon', Arsene Wenger said about rumours that Dutch star Dennis Bergkamp would put aside his fear of flying. Have you got a story for us? Call 2565-2235; fax 2562-2485 or e-mail to: sports@scmp.com .
