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Name: Sonia Kong Cheuk-yee

School: Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Grade: Year One

Sport: Beach volleyball

Achievements:  Kong, 20, is the top-ranked women's player in Hong Kong.  Last year, she competed in the Doha Asian Game and All-China Games. She also took part in the under-21 beach volleyball championship in Brazil and Poland.

Her team came fifth in the under-20 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship last year.

She was part of the Hong Kong squad at the women's 2006 International Beach Volleyball Challenge  and will join the competition again this year.

She is  a member of PolyU's beach volleyball team.

Soundbite: 'I joined the youth national volleyball team in 2003. Then, one of my teammates asked me to try beach volleyball. I felt this sport was great fun, so I joined the beach volleyball team a year later,' Kong said.

'Beach volleyball is such a challenging sport because it is played by just two players. Even if you are injured,  you need to  persevere and finish a match.  Unlike other team sports, no one can substitute you during a  game.

'It was difficult for me to handle training and studying at the same time when I first entered university. I always had to sacrifice my leisure time for practice.'

From her coach: 'Sonia has changed a lot  since she joined the [beach volleyball] team. She used to be self-centred and would never listen to other people.  It is amazing what beach volleyball  has done to her,' said Hong Kong head coach, Cheng King-leung.

'She is now more willing to heed advice  and has more confidence.'

'She is optimistic at all competitions, no matter what the result is. Before, she used to be depressed after losing.'

Ambitions: 'I am going to India for the Asian championship next month,  and I will travel to the US for intensive training in August,' Kong said.

'Through training and competitions, I hope to be well-prepared for this year's women's International Beach Volleyball Challenge. Hopefully, we can get into the final eight this year.'



Having a ball at the beach