Smash hit – best-ever chance of Olympic medals for Hong Kong’s Rio badminton squad
HKBA chairman Tong Wai-lun says it is the strongest team to represent the city at the Games, with high hopes in men’s singles and mixed doubles
Hong Kong’s badminton squad head to Rio with their best chance of winning an Olympic medal, led by men’s singles player Angus Ng Ka-long and the mixed doubles pair of Lee Chun-hei and Cathy Chau Hoi-wah.
If the draw is favourable to us I think we can get medals, especially in the men’s singles and mixed doubles
The Hong Kong Badminton Association is sending a seven-strong squad to the Brazilian city – the largest Hong Kong contingent – and chairman Tong Wai-lun is confident they can become the fourth sport to win an Olympic medal for Hong Kong.
“Yes, I think this is our best chance so far,” said Tong at a meet-the-press gathering at the Hong Kong Sports Institute yesterday. “If the draw is favourable to us I think we can get medals, especially in the men’s singles and mixed doubles and I’m looking forward to them at least getting to the quarter-finals.”
Ng, 22, was ranked 13th in the world while his fellow singles player Hu Yun was 12th as of July 21. But the youngster, who was ranked 10th in early June, is the one to watch for Hong Kong after collecting victories over China’s two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan and Chen Long over the past year.
The mixed doubles pair of Lee and Chau won the Australian Open Superseries tournament in May last year and are expected to challenge for medals.
Tong is hoping the precocious Ng can control his nerves in his maiden Olympics after his victories over two of the world’s best players. The player himself is grateful for the chance to vie for glory in Rio.
“I’m really excited because this is my first Olympics and there are many unknowns over there,” said Ng. “I know I need to calm down more and I’ll just lower my expectations slightly and remind myself that I’m still a young player and I’m getting a lot of experience.