High jump star Cecilia Yeung ready to take on young challenge after 20 months out with injury

Cecilia Yeung Man-wai said she welcomed the challenge posed by a new generation of Hong Kong high jumpers as she took part in a competitive meet for the first time in 20 months after recovering from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury.

Yeung was only able to use a three-step, short run-up because she was only just returning to competition. She finished sixth out of eight athletes after clearing 1.62 metres at the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates preseason trial at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground on Saturday.

Two youngsters set their personal best heights in the first track and field event in Hong Kong for four months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tiffany Tang Yi-ching won the event by jumping 1.77m while Chow Kwan-wing cleared 1.75m to finish second.

Yeung, whose Hong Kong record stands at 1.88 metres, was pleased with her own performance because she was able to execute what she practised during training. More importantly, she was happy that more high jumpers had joined the battlefield.

Hong Kong high jumper Cecilia Yeung back in action for first time in 20 months after injury

“I cleared a similar height when I used the three-step approach before my injury and therefore the result is not disappointing,” said Yeung, who required surgery after rupturing her right Achilles tendon during training at the Sports Institute in May 2019.

“Of course, there was some pressure and I was a bit nervous in my first competition after such a long absence but I am happy with the progress I have made so far. Hopefully I can gradually improve my form and use a full approach before getting back in shape for the Hong Kong Championships in May, with the China National Games in September the target.”

Yeung praised champion Tang, saying the 21-year-old has raised her standard after recently becoming a full-time athlete.

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“She now trains with me at the Sports Institute after becoming a full-time athlete and we share a room in the athletes’ hostel,” said Yeung, who graduated from the University of Hong Kong last year. “She has shown marked improvement because it’s not easy to set a personal best in a preseason trial. It proves we are on the right track and with more competition we can all make improvements.”

Tang, however, said she expected to clear 1.8 metres after starting to train full-time and improving her form.

“I turned full-time because I want to get back to training as the Sports Institute only allows full-time athletes to train under the pandemic,” said Tang, a Baptist University student.

“I can have more training time and more rest time in between training and that’s possibly why I have made the improvement.

“I could have cleared 1.8 metres today but unfortunately failed after three attempts, but clearing 1.8 metres and above remains my target.”

Tang preferred not to compare her performance with that of Cheung because the latter only applied a three-step approach before jumping. “There is no point of comparing the result today as she is not using a full approach,” said Tang. “But I always prefer not to compare with others. I set my own target and if I can achieve it, then it should be fine.”

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Vera Lui Lai-yiu cruised to victory in 13.63 seconds in her first race of the new season. The hurdler has still not given up hope of qualifying for the Olympics and plans to go overseas, most likely Europe, after the Hong Kong Championships.

“It’s still my target [Olympic qualification] and I want to secure more ranking points through competitions,” she said. “But it is still too early to say, there are many uncertainties under the pandemic such as quarantine requirements and safety arrangements for overseas competitions. We have to be patient and wait for more details of these overseas events.”