Cat napping, but she'll be fit

THE woman responsible for Hong Kong's first Asian Games gold medal lay in bed with a cold as her teammates joined 10 other teams for the opening ceremony of today's Asian Games tenpin bowling competition.

Cat Che, a gold and silver medallist at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, was the notable absentee from the Hong Kong team as they lined up with their opponents for the official welcoming at the Hiroden Bowling Alley.

She attended the morning's official practice but did not feel up to the drawn out opening ceremony.

But coach Eric Jang said Che will be ready for today's singles competition.

'She has a slight cold and we are only taking a precaution,' Jang said. 'I think it was best that she didn't attend.

'It was stuffy standing for a long time on the lanes and hot under the lights.' Indeed, the many speeches and introductions took more than an hour.

The bowlers started to get edgy and one of the young placard holders fainted from exhaustion while she was standing to attention.