Injury to Wong hits HK chances

HONG Kong's medal hopes at the Commonwealth Games next year have been dealt a cruel blow with leading player Wong Chun-fan almost certain to be out for the next six months with a crippling knee injury.

The Olympian tore the cruciate ligaments in her left knee at the four-team pre-Commonwealth Games Championships in Victoria, Canada, last month and is on crutches following an operation.

National coach Diana Lo Leung Bik-luen said: ''Wong is our most outstanding women's singles player and she will be sadly missed at February's Uber Cup in Singapore and also probably the Commonwealth Games next August.

''Even if she is able to return to training in April or May, I doubt if she would have regained her fitness or be in psychological shape to be back at her best for the Commonwealth Games.'' The Victoria tournament featured the four likely Commonwealth Games medal contenders - Hong Kong, Canada, England and Malaysia. The territory finished runners-up to the Canadians.

Lo has already set her hopes on Chan Oi-ni to take over the women's singles slot in the Hong Kong team for both the Uber Cup and Commonwealth Games.

Chan and her national squad teammates face a tough playing schedule over the next four weeks with three major championships lined up - the Thai Open, China Open and Hong Kong Open.

Other Hong Kong shuttlers entered for the three tournaments are Wong Wai-lap, Chan Siu-kwong, Tam Kai-chuen and women players Chung Hoi-yuk, Cheng Yin-sat, Tung Chau-man and Ngan Fai.