Hong Kong Davis Cup veteran Melvin Tong has decided to give the Asian Games a miss and announce his retirement as local tennis, charting a course to the future, named a four-strong men's squad with the emphasis firmly on youth.
The squad will be spearheaded by Wayne Wong, who will carry Hong Kong's medal hopes in the singles, and also includes fellow-Davis Cup player John Hui and teenagers Brian Hung and Yu Hiu-tung. Hong Kong's sole women's representative at the Pusan Games in October will be Tong Ka-po.
Melvin Tong's absence will bring to an end the successful doubles partnership he had with Hui. The pair won the bronze medal at the China National Games last November as well as finishing runners-up at the Asian Championships a month later.
'I said after the Davis Cup tie against Malaysia [in April] that I would help out if they didn't have enough players. Obviously they have got the players. Anyway I have retired,' said the 27-year-old Tong yesterday.
Davis Cup non-playing captain Derek Ling, who will be one of two coaches accompanying the squad to the Asian Games, said he hoped Tong would still be available to play for Hong Kong in future Cup ties.
'Melvin's absence is definitely a big blow. Although in doubles we have the players to fill the gap, we will miss his experience and also his loss will boost the opposition who will see that the combination which won a bronze medal at the All China Games and finished runners-up at the Asian Championships is no more,' said Ling.
But Ling remained hopeful that Tong would make a comeback. 'As far as I'm concerned, I think it is a 'temporary' retirement. Things have not worked out presently but rest assured that we will approach him when Davis Cup action starts again next year.'