The commander's last stand
Wong Kam-po, Hong Kong's most successful cyclist, has come out of retirement to help the city's younger riders capture gold in Shenyang
Veteran Hong Kong cyclist Wong Kam-po has competed at every National Games since the handover in 1997, and has struck fear into the hearts of his mainland rivals. So much so that organisers of this year's Games in Shenyang, Liaoning province, have changed the route of the road race to ensure riders from Hong Kong do not have a competitive advantage.
Wong has finished on the podium at the previous four Games, starting in Shanghai in 1997, winning three gold medals and two bronze, and despite his retirement last year after the London Olympics, the 40-year-old has been recalled to the team because of his vast experience on the international stage.
"We want to make sure the medal-winning streak will not be broken in Shenyang and Wong's presence is very important," said Hong Kong Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak. "He is the big brother in the eyes of not just the Hong Kong riders, but also mainland cyclists. That's why we asked him to come back from retirement to help us out this one last time.
"The National Games is the biggest competition in China. Although Wong may not start as a serious medal contender like before, his role as team commander can give the younger members of our squad more confidence. And if the chance comes, Wong can also mount a serious challenge for a medal as he is still one of the best sprinters in Asia."
Wong, who also took part in the National Road Race Championships in June, is excited to resume his role as team leader. "Whether I can win a gold medal again is not the top priority. It's about a Hong Kong rider finishing on the podium," he said.
Leung said organisers had planned to stage the race on a hilly course but changed their minds after 22-year-old Choi Ki-ho was included in Hong Kong's squad as Wong's chief lieutenant.
"Choi is one of the top climbers in Asia and riders from the mainland teams would struggle to catch him on the hills," said Leung. "So the organisers have changed the course to a relatively flat road race in order to make the competition more open. But we still have riders such as Wong and Kwok Ho-ting who are very good when it comes to a mass sprint at the finish. That's why we are confident of a podium finish."