World champ's making waves
WHAT could a windsurfing world champion - and that too only at the age of 23 - probably ask for other than more success? At least a spacious room to store and display all the trophies he or she has won on his or her way to the top.
For Lee Lai-shan (''Shan-shan'' to friends and loved ones), such a room is urgently needed because last week she added two more trophies to her fast expanding collection of awards. The trophies came in the form of Hong Kong Sports Institute's (HKSI) Athlete of the Year Award and the Recognition Award.
Praising Lee, Major General Guy Watkins, chairman of the HKSI management committee, said: ''Lee Lai-shan is simply the best in the world. She was born and trained in Hong Kong and she has been one of the scholarship students since 1990.'' The HKSI offers scholarships to outstanding athletes annually and this year the number of recipients reached 216 with other athletes such as Chai Po-wa (table tennis), Ho Kim-fai (rowing), Chan Sau-ying (athletics), Li Fai (wushu) and Chan Siu-kwong (badminton), also benefitting from the project.
''In 1989, some people said Hong Kong athletes would never achieve success at the international level. I'm delighted the excellent performance of our athletes has proved them wrong,'' said Paul Brettell, the outgoing managing director of the HKSI.
He said he was confident that his successor Dr Dennis Whitby would continue the good work done by the HKSI.
With the world, European and Asian windsurfing champion titles under her belt, Lee said she was grateful for the hi-tech training and coaching given to her by the HKSI.
''Without the HKSI, I would not have become a world champion today.'' Another athlete Connie Ho Ka-lai of the women's epee team said: ''The award took me by surprise. I believe that by being calm during fencing competitions, I have been able to give my best performances. The encouragement from my teammates during the competitions also helped a great deal.'' The HKSI has offered more and more human and financial support to local athletes over the years. In 1987, there were only 52 scholarship athletes with a budget of $1.8 million. But this year, the budget touched $8.6 million with more than 200 athletes benefitting from the scheme.
''There is a stronger than ever will to succeed (at the international sports arena) and a commitment to achieve high goals,'' said Mr Brettell.
Lee Ling-woon (fencing) and Jacklyn Fu (tennis) were awarded the Academic Awards.
underlining HKSI's attempts to achieve a perfect balance between hard training and studies.
