A SAD week for Hong Kong athletics ended on a high note when local teenager Chan Man-yee was invited to train with Ma's army of distance runners in China.
A few weeks of high-altitude training under the watchful eye of wonder coach Ma Junren and a few bowls of turtle blood and who knows what will happen to the 18-year-old student's career on the track? One thing is for sure, though; she will quickly discover if she wants to be a gold medal winner or an also-ran.
Ma would not invite her if the potential was not there and clearly he has seen enough during the Asian Track and Field Championships in Manila to suggest that Chan can go much farther if she is prepared to make the sacrifices.
Whether the coach is aware that Chan is studying for five A Levels at the moment is another matter. Welcome to Hong Kong sport, Mr Ma, and a problem you've never had to deal with before.
I await the results with interest.
The week began on a depressing note with the news that the cross-border marathon between Hong Kong and Shenzhen had been cancelled after only two years because of a steep rise in costs.