Local Olympic heroes Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak may have been forced to settle for silver in Athens, but they both have hearts of gold. Taking time out from their busy schedules, the pair played table tennis with 10-year-old Chan Kwok-lai, who suffers from lymphoma, a form of cancer. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation - a charity that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses - and the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association, Kwok-lai's dream came true earlier this month, when he played for an hour with the two silver medallists. 'I'm so happy,' was all Kwok-lai could say.
Li and Ko's coach, Chan Kong-wah, said the boy had talent. 'We encouraged him to keep practising,' he said. As a souvenir, he was given a table tennis bat autographed by Li and Ko and stamps commemorating their victory. The experience will certainly be something for Kwok-lai to remember.
