THE year 1993 has been exceptional for Hong Kong's sportswomen in the international arena, with a string of outstanding achievements that include the territory's first world title in an Olympic event.
Windsurfer Lee Lai-shan dominated women's board-sailing by sweeping all but one of the major championships she attended - taking third place in the inaugural event of the world windsurfing calendar, the Spa Regatta.
After this initial competition, Lee quickly made her mark by winning the remaining three races on the early-summer European circuit, including the European Championships.
The 23-year-old from Cheung Chau went from strength to strength and made history by becoming the first sailor to complete a clean sweep of the World, European and Asian titles in the same year.
Another Hong Kong world champion is woman wushu exponent Li Fai, who won gold medals in the cudgel and changquan routines at the World Championships.
Former schoolteacher Ho Kim-fai, who gave up her job three years ago to become a full-time rower, will also go down in history as Hong Kong's first gold medal winner at the inaugural East Asian Games.
Ho was the territory's only East Asian Games gold medallist when she scored in the women's single scull. She capped off a memorable year by winning the same event at the Asian Championships in which she also captured a silver in doubles with Malina NgaiMan-lin.
