Earlier this month swimmer Sze Hang-yu and badminton player Wong Wai-hong were disappointed not to be chosen as winners in the junior category of the prestigious Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards.
But being named the Hong Kong Sports Institute's Outstanding Juniors for the fourth quarter of 2004 has made up for it.
The teenagers were presented with their prizes, $2,500 in cash and a $2,500 sports gear voucher, at the sports centre in Sha Tin last week.
'Winning the award is very encouraging,' said Hang-yu, 17, a student at Diocesan Girls' School. 'I was very happy when I heard the result. I want to thank my coach Chan Yiu-hoi, my parents, my school headmistress and teachers for supporting me,' she added.
It was a good end to the year for Hang-yu, who ranked eighth in the women's 100m medley and sixth in the 50m butterfly at two Swimming World Cup Series legs in Melbourne and South Korea respectively.
The water-loving student was a member of the 2004 Hong Kong Olympic team in Athens and has won a host of medals at age group championships in Hong Kong and around Asia. She is a Hong Kong record holder in 50m and 100m butterfly, and 4x200m freestyle, and a junior record holder in five events.
A fantastic effort at the World Junior Badminton Championships in Canada convinced judges to reward Wai-hong, a full-time scholarship athlete based at the Sports Institute.
