Maturity and motherhood paying off for Li

Li Fai has travelled a long road to take part in her first multi-sport competition in eight years. Now the mother of a six-year-old girl, the wushu ace carried the SAR's flag at the opening ceremony of the East Asian Games in Osaka yesterday.

'I'm happy to have carried the flag as it is the first time for me in a major games,' said Li, who led part of the SAR's 90-strong squad to march in second place behind China at the Osaka Dome.

Li, who took the bronze in the three-event combined (changquan, cudgel and sword) event as a 23-year-old at the inaugural East Asian Games in Shanghai in 1993, gave the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games a miss as she was expecting her child and had not been ready for a major games after switching to taijiquan from the physically more demanding disciplines.

One of Hong Kong's gold medal hopes - she won a World Championship silver medal in taijiquan last year in Hong Kong - Li reflected on episodes that had helped her mature. 'I was just looking for fun when I competed in Shanghai because I was young. At that time, I viewed the Games as just another opportunity for me to compete. But now, I cherish every opportunity to train and compete as I know every one of them is invaluable. I love this sport more and I'm treating it more seriously than ever.

'My daughter's birth changed my life. She is very important to me and we support each other. She's studying in primary school now and she always wants to be number one in her class. This inspires me and gives me the motivation to finish first in any tournament,' said the 31-year-old.

'I have become one of the most senior members of the wushu team and I have to set an example to the young athletes. But the team spirit is high and we get along very well.'