It's a breeze - San San retains golden aura in Asiad farewell

The golden age of Lee Lai-shan continues. Four years after winning her first Asian Games gold medal in Bangkok, San San repeated that feat yesterday. The 32-year-old star won the windsurfing gold with three races and two days to spare.

Hong Kong's golden girl wrapped up the Mistral event at the Pusan Games in stunning style, despite a controversial foul-up by race organisers who cancelled the first race held yesterday - and won by San San - on a technicality resulting in the whole field having to start afresh and compete in two more races.

But there was no holding back San San. In inimitable fashion she swept away the first restarted race, winning it hands down, then finished second in the next race - the result she knew she had to get to confirm her golden status despite three more races to go in the 11-race series. 'This is special. Not only for what happened today, but also because this will be my last Asian Games. I was eager to win this medal as I know I will not be around in four years' time,' said a smiling San San, winner of the 1996 Olympic Gold medal.

'Are you retiring?' was the next question as the media scrum excitedly huddled around her. 'No,' laughed San San. 'My next goal is to see Hong Kong qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. That is my focus at the moment. I have not thought beyond that.'

Her victory here brings the curtain down on an illustrious Asian Games career. San San has taken part in four Asian Games, starting with the 1990 Beijing Games where she won the silver medal in the Lechner class. Four years later in Hiroshima she won silver again, but in windsurfing. Then her golden age began.

Hong Kong have now won four gold medals in Pusan, although San San's victory will only be officially recorded when the regatta ends tomorrow and the medal ceremonies for the various classes is held. But the Hong Kong camp were already celebrating.

San San will take part in December's World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, which also serves as a qualifying event for the Athens Olympics. She wants to book Hong Kong's berth for 2004, so even if she does retire, the SAR is assured of a place.