Tokyo Olympics: who are Hong Kong’s main medal hopes at the 2020 Games?

Swimmer Siobhan Haughey, karateka Grace Lau, track cyclist Sarah Lee and fencer Vivian Kong are the main contenders but other Hong Kong athletes are also in mix

Gymnast Stone Shek, badminton player Angus Ng, windsurfers and table tennis mixed doubles are also capable of medal performances if they can hit top form

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Vivian Kong Man-wai and Sarah Lee Wai-sze are among Hong Kong's medal hopes for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Photo: FIE/CAHK

Published: 7:30am, 23 Jul 2021Updated: 5:44pm, 23 Jul 2021

For Hong Kong athletes at the 2020 Olympics, the journey to Tokyo is unlike any path travelled by their predecessors going back to the city’s debut at the 1952 Games in Helsinki. And it’s not only because of the Covid-19 pandemic that forced the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Games by one year.

When the action officially begins on Saturday, Hong Kong are looking at four genuine medal hopes – never before have Hong Kong had so many athletes of world-class standard who are on a par with the best in their respective sports.

Based on world rankings, recent performances and experience, the four Hong Kong athletes who stand out as medal chances are track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai, swimmer Siobhan Haughey and karateka Grace Lau Mo-sheung.

When windsurfer Lee Lai-shan won gold in Atlanta in 1996 – Hong Kong’s first Olympic medal – she was one of only two medal hopes, the other being the table tennis women’s pair of Chan Tan-lui and Chai Po-wa. Since then, Hong Kong have won two more medals – Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching’s men’s doubles table tennis silver in Athens 2004 and Sarah Lee’s keirin bronze in London 2012.

Here we look at our four main medal hopes and other Hong Kong athletes who are also capable of sneaking a podium place.