HONG KONG'S hopes of an Asian Games gold medal in wushu have been rocked by news that China have entered two players for the men's nanquan competition to counter the challenge from Leung Yat-ho.
Leung, silver medallist at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing and gold medal winner at the 1992 World Championships, is considered the major threat to China's bid for a clean-sweep of the six wushu golds.
'China have entered He Qiang and Lang Rongpiao for the men's nanquan and it is a big surprise because I thought they would put a double entry for the all-round instead,' said Liu De, the Hong Kong national coach from Guangdong.
'I do not really know if the Chinese had done this because of Leung's presence but it has certainly hurt our medal prospects.' He Qiang must be the top favourite to retain the Asian Games nanquan crown as he has been unbeaten in major championships in more than four years. Leung won the 1992 world title in his absence.
Lang, the number one nanquan exponent in Tienjin, is a complete newcomer to a multi-sports Games and his selection for the Asiad was on the strength of his triumph in an invitational tournament earlier this year in which He Qiang did not take part.
Said Liu: 'Even the second or third string players from China are of a very high standard so I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Leung misses out on the medals completely because Macau and Japan are also serious medal contenders.