Twins hit the heights in junior games
Twins Lee Ming-hong and Lee Ming-chong were among the Hong Kong representatives at the Asian Junior X Games which was held in Phuket, Thailand, recently.
More than 130 athletes from 12 countries competed in four events: in-line skating, skateboarding, sport climbing (speed and bouldering), and bicycle stunts.
Six competitors represented the SAR in sport climbing, including the twins, aged 13.
They told Young Post they had been doing sport climbing for more than three years.
Ming-hong said their father was the first person in their family to try climbing,
then he and Ming-chong became interested and joined a YMCA course.
Ming-hong said: 'We partner each other.
While one is climbing, the other holds the safety rope.'
He said the sport was very challenging and great fun.
'It is all about strength, staying power, balance and a calm mind,' he said.
Sport climbing was becoming popular in Hong Kong, he said, although it was not yet a territory-wide sport.
'It's an excellent sport. On the one hand it's fun and chal lenging; on the other hand it can train your muscles and patience.'
None of his classmates wanted to join him, however.
'Hong Kong has too many distractions - shopping, TV games, computer, karaoke and VCDs,' he said.
His classmates preferred indoor activities.
Although they have not won any prizes yet, the experience allowed the twins to observe other participants' techniques.
'Australia has a very long-established team and the members are very tall and strong,' he said, but Chinese athletes were the rising stars of the games.
One of the reasons Hong Kong athletes were a bit behind was a shortage of practice facilities in the SAR.
'There are only a few locations with such facilities, and we've already climbed them many times,' he said.
TVB Pearl's Disney Channel is scheduled to broadcast games highlights at 8 pm on February 17, with additional programmes from March 25.
