Siobhan Haughey wins gold for Hong Kong at the 2017 World University Games. Photo: SCMP
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https://scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3176687/hong-kong-picks-squad-world-university-games-chengdu-likely Hong Kong
Hong Kong picks squad for World University Games in Chengdu – but likely postponement leaves them in limbo
- 103 athletes chosen in 11 sports, but selection threatens to turn bittersweet, with Games facing switch to 2023 because of Covid-19
- Source says organisers are planning to postpone the already delayed Games in light of mainland China’s outbreak
Ryan Choi Chun-yin has been chosen to represent Hong Kong at the World University Games, but they are expected to be postponed. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong has chosen a team of 100-plus athletes for the World University Games in Chengdu – but it could all be for nothing after a source said that the event, scheduled for June and July, was to be postponed until 2023.
Athletes and administrators in Hong Kong had yet to hear of a postponement when the city’s squad was revealed exclusively to the South China Morning Post on Thursday, with Olympic fencer Ryan Choi Chun-yin among the team members desperate to avoid a delay.
But the Games – already pushed back a year from their original August 2021 slot because of the coronavirus – are likely to be moved again as China battles its latest outbreak, according to a source in contact with the organising committee.
That would leave in limbo the Hong Kong delegation of 149, including 103 athletes selected to compete in 11 of the Games’ 18 sports between June 26 and July 7.
The squad, yet to be announced publicly, is the second-largest the city has selected for any University Games, topped only by the 111 athletes it sent to Taipei five years ago. Those 2017 Games were Hong Kong’s most successful, as it won two gold medals in swimming, both for Siobhan Haughey, and a bronze apiece in tennis and wushu.
University of Hong Kong student Choi has been picked to compete at his third University Games, and the fencer would be one of Hong Kong’s leading medal prospects.
The 24-year-old, who was the city’s flag-bearer at the 2019 edition’s opening ceremony, is due to start his campaign on the second day of the Games – when it eventually goes ahead.
“I don’t want it to be postponed again, now that I’m slowly getting back into shape,” he said from his base in Germany, where he is training with Hong Kong’s Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long.
The squad for Hong Kong’s 19th consecutive appearance in the multisport Universiade also includes representatives in archery, artistic gymnastics, athletics, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, swimming, volleyball and wushu.
Tokyo Olympic team bronze medallist Doo Hoi-kem heads the list of table tennis players selected. She said of a possible postponement: “It’s something I cannot control, so I’ll simply keep focused on normal training.
“If I can attend, I will treasure this wonderful opportunity and go for the medals.”
Early last month, the organisers said that the Games would proceed this year, despite some countries, including Britain, Canada and New Zealand, pulling out over Covid-19 concerns.
A postponement could revive speculation about the feasibility of proceeding with the Asian Games, which China is also due to host this year, in Hangzhou in September.
As of Thursday, Mabel Mak, chairwoman of the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, said that she had not heard about a postponement of the University Games and was expecting them to go ahead. Hong Kong’s flag presentation has been planned for June 8.
Chengdu will be the third Chinese city to host the Universiade, after Beijing and Shenzhen in 2001 and 2011 respectively.