'The new equipment is more powerful. Asian people will suffer as they are physically not as big as Europeans'
A decision to use new sailing equipment at the 2008 Beijing Olympics could signal the end of an illustrious career for Hong Kong's golden girl Lee Lai-shan.
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) decided on Friday to replace the ageing Mistral One-design board with the new Neil Pryde RS-X board at the next Olympic Games. The Mistral, which favours lightweight athletes had been used since the 1996 Games in Atlanta - the year San San won a gold medal.
San San had indicated earlier that a decision on her retirement could partly depend on whether sailing authorities would replace the Mistral for the Beijing Games. She was unavailable for comment yesterday. But her husband, Sam Wong Tak-sum, said tests would have to be done on the new board before any decision was taken.
'It is up to her whether she carries on or not. But we will wait until the new equipment is available so that we can do some tests. We have heard the new board will favour bigger athletes, but maybe the sail design might help lightweight athletes,' said Wong yesterday.
San San turned 34 on September 5. She will be 37 when the Beijing Olympics open on August 8, 2008. The debate is on whether San San, who has taken part in four Olympic Games, should continue, or if she should step aside and allow her younger colleagues, sisters Chan Wai-kei and Chan Wai-man, carry the flag. Countries can only field one competitor in windsurfing at the Olympics.