Angel Wong Hiu-ying still clearly remembers she was only 12 years old when her beloved sport was kicked out of the elite programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in 1999.
'I was a member of the junior squad and trained at the Challenge Gymnasium,' said Wong, now 24 and a member of the Hong Kong gymnastics delegation who won one of the SAR's three bronze medals at last month's World University Games.
'But one day we were told we had to leave the Sports Institute because we were no longer part of the programme there. At that time, I did not know what it meant exactly and how it would affect my sports career as I was too young. But I knew it wasn't a good thing.'
Gymnastics performed under par at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998 and failed to meet the required standards. It was dropped from the elite ranks when the next support cycle began in April the following year.
As a result, all the gymnasts lost their scholarship status at the institute and could no longer enjoy the top-class facilities at the centre, including training, sports science and medicine support. They also had to move out of the athletes' quarters and lost their monthly stipend. Worst of all, the institute also terminated the contract with their head coach and other coaching assistants.
In a bid to showcase their plight, Wong and other members of the Hong Kong team performed in front of the Legislative Council chambers in Central. She also wrote letters to authorities for assistance.
