Medal hopes hit by injury to youngster

RISING badminton star Ma Che-kong is expected to pull out of the territory's Commonwealth Games squad today because of injury - leaving Hong Kong's hopes of a team medal in disarray.

Ma, one half of Hong Kong's top men's doubles team, tore his hamstring at last week's Brunei Open and will be out of action for at least two months, although Hong Kong Badminton Association officials are holding out in the faint hope the 19-year-old can still play in Victoria in less than three weeks' time.

Hong Kong's badminton squad was the most successful of all sports the territory entered in the last Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, winning a gold in the mixed doubles competition and a bronze medal in the fiercely competitive mixed team tournament.

And Hong Kong Sports Institute head badminton coach Diana Lo Leung Bik-luen, whose squad was hit by the retirement of four key men players earlier this year, now fears the withdrawal of Ma would dampen the territory's chances even further.

She said: ''It's a serious injury. The hamstring is not just pulled but torn as well. The doctors would have to determine how long he will be out but I'm afraid it's going to be for a while.

''Ma has tremendous potential and together with Tam Kai-chuen, would have been a key part of the challenge for medals in the team event.'' She said that Ma is most likely to be replaced by another youngster, Tam Lok-tin.