Fong wins heat but fails to qualify

ALEX FONG Lik-sun won his 50-metre backstroke heat at the Universiade yesterday, but his time of 28.76 seconds was still outside the fastest 16 swimmers in the four heats and he failed to advance to the semi-finals.

Teammate Chan Yiu-bun raced in the same heat but finished more than two seconds behind in 30.89. James Westcott of the United States recorded the fastest time of 25.67.

In the 100m freestyle heats, Kenneth Doo Kin-lun timed 53.52 seconds. Szeto Shui-ki was due to race in the 200m medley heats later in the day.

To date, the SAR has yet to join this year's World University Games medals table.

Following the Hong Kong volleyball players' battling loss to their taller and quicker mainland counterparts here on Monday, the basketball team also have an opportunity to raise the bar today when they clash with South Africa in phase two of the competition at Park Chung Hee Gym.

The volleyball team showed improved form in contrast to three miserable defeats to Portugal, Japan and Russia at the weekend.

They lost in straight sets once again, but came frustratingly close to stealing the first set off their rivals at the Catholic University Gym. The whole team looked much more confident and enthusiastic than before.