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PE exercises brain and brawn

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A good academic track record is more important than outstanding athletic performance when it comes to studying physical education, according to a sports science professor.

'Some students come to me and ask if they could be enrolled by patching up their academic results with an excellent sports performance. My answer is that talented athletes are not what we are looking for,' said Professor Stephen Wong Heung-sang of the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Established in 1994, the CUHK programme focuses on physical education in schools rather than training athletes, Professor Wong said, although squash queen Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin and triathlon star Daniel Lee Chi-wo are among the students he has taught.

The curriculum is part theory, part practical.

'Many students have a superficial understanding of the pro gramme. Some of them felt it was strange they had to take theoretical courses.' He said the department had accepted many students who were not gifted athletes, but who were hard working and serious about studying.

Students also had to demonstrate good ability in English and Chinese because many textbooks were not easy to understand, he said.

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