Sports: Fencing

Achievements: Au Yeung, 22, is the Polytechnic University's Best Athlete of the Year for 2007. She was a member of the SAR fencing team to the Asian Games in Doha, where Hong Kong finished with a bronze medal. She also took part in the All China Games last year. She is number two in the Hong Kong women's fencing sabre ranking.

From her coach: 'Catherine's performance is good. She is very determined, which helps her to fence better in competitions. But she should build up more self-confidence,' said Wang Ruiji, chief coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

Soundbite: 'I started fencing because of my friends. In 2004, I represented my school in the inter-school competition and my performance was noticed by a national coach. He then invited me to join the national team,' Au Yeung said. 'I usually practise six days a week. I stopped practising when I was taking the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, but soon after the exam, I was back at practice.

'Fencing is such an interesting sport. You need to think while you are playing, so fitness training alone is not enough for this sport.'

Ambitions: 'I'm working hard so that I can participate in the rankings competitions organised by the International Fencing Association. I just came back from Beijing and will go to Cuba and the United States later. By going to these competitions, we fight to meet the qualifying standards for the Olympic Games. I hope our team can get enough points to win us qualification for next year's Olympics,' Au Yeung said.

Gigi is a Young Post intern