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Name: Ng Siu-ching

Birthday: December 15, 1968

Birthplace: Guilin, Guangxi

Occupation: Athlete (Wushu)

When and why did you start  practising wushu?

I took up wushu at the age of four, because of my father. He is a great wushu master who coached at a wushu training school.

I remember every morning we would get up at 5 am  and work out for about two hours. After that we would go to school. In the afternoon we would continue with our practice.

But I didn't start training in earnest until I turned seven.

After we moved to Hong Kong in 1986, I learned that the Hong Kong Wushu Union was looking for young athletes to represent them in the Asian championships.This is how I began my wushu life here.

What events do you specialise in?

At the age of 10 I started practising sword and sabre  routines. At that time we were only allowed to use wooden  weapons because using real ones would be too dangerous for us.

At a later stage we began to take up the spear. I would say swordplay is my favourite.

At the 2nd East Asian Games  in 1997 you won the only gold  medal for Hong Kong, which  was also the last championship  title for the territory before the  handover and in the same year  you won the first gold medal  for the SAR in the 4th World  Wushu Championship in Rome.  This would be a  unique experi ence for anybody. How do you  feel about that?

On both occasions I didn't have  many different feelings.

When I was receiving the honours, listening to our national anthem and enjoying the cheers and admiring glances,  I would be completely overwhelmed by excitement and couldn't think of anything else.

For an athlete, the most important thing is to do one's best.

Why are you going to Massa chusetts? Why did you take up  journalism, which is different  from your own profession?

I'm going to Springfield College to complete my degree in Sports Science.

But by that time if my English has reached the necessary standard I might switch subjects.

I used to be a freelance com mentator for  TV sports programmes  and a contributor to sports columns.

As time went by I began to develop an interest in the media and would like to acquire more knowledge in this field.

Is Chinese martial arts popu lar in the West?

Martial arts are far more popular among Western countries than we might have imagined.

For example, there are wushu  championships every year in the United States and Canada.

They are well-organised and of a very high standard.

There are even inter-states championships in the  US.

There are many Western wushu enthusiasts who have devoted themselves to promoting Chinese martial arts.

What do you think about the  overall standard of local wushu  athletes compared to those in  the mainland?

After many years' effort, Hong Kong has already laid a firm foundation for local wushu development.

The number of young athletes participating in wushu training is on the increase.

Every year the Wushu Union organises a number of open competitions. Through these, young athletes with  potential will be picked out and provided with further training.

Of course we still lag behind the mainland in many respects, but  we are on the right track.

Many young local athletes  have reservations about com mitting themselves fully to a ca reer in sports because they  think it cannot secure a decent  living. What is your opinion  about that?

Athletes in Hong Kong are getting more and more recognition and respect. And many parents are now more  willing to let their children spend more time  training.

But there is one thing I have to emphasise: teenagers who are determined to pursue a career in sports must understand that they will have to make more sacrifices than others.

For any athlete, the path to success is never a smooth one.

How did you come to  repre sent the SAR  at the Sydney  Olympic Torch Run at Guam?

Earlier this year, the Olympic Committee informed me that I was invited to represent the SAR at the Torch Run.

It was my great pleasure to  represent Hong Kong in this special event.

I think it is a privilege  not many people can enjoy.

You have received the SAR  Medal of Honour in 1998 and  many Sports Star Awards in the  past decade, have all the hon ours ever  put pressure on you?

No, they haven't. Instead I take them as encouragement.

But it is true that as you receive more honours people will expect you to do better.

This does sometimes creates a certain degree of pressure. And pressure is something that every athlete has to deal with.

Sometimes I  feel overwhelmed by pressure.

Last year, I lost two titles because of mistakes I made, but I told myself that there would be no regrets as long as I  did my best.

What is your advice for our  young readers, especially those  who have decided to choose a  career in sports?

Whenever you encounter any problems or difficulties, don't try to hide from them.

Talk to your parents, teachers, or coach.

Always persevere with your training.

One failure should never stop you from trying again.

Set yourself a clear goal and go for it.

For more than a decade, Ng Siu-ching has been one of the most prominent athletes in the  SAR and a  big name in the wushu  field. Since 1987, she has represented Hong Kong in countless international  contests and has won more titles than any other local athlete. She is a five-time gold medallist in the World Wushu Championship.  Ng has completed a local degree in Journalism and is about to leave for the United States to continue her sports degree  at Springfield College, Massachusetts.



Champion proud of representing SAR