Triathletes eye relay to rescue Asian Games campaign
Team event is last chance for Ivan Lo, Perry Wong, Joyce Cheung and Hilda Choi to bring home a medal and secure their elite status at the Sports Institute
Triathlon's future is on a knife-edge after Hong Kong triathletes finished eighth in the men's and women's individual races yesterday, leaving the mixed relay team to conjure a rescue act today.
The team have to win a medal in the new event to retain their place in the elite programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute as well as the millions of dollars in support that come with it.
Eric Wong Hiu-wai finished eighth in the men's final in one hour, 55 minutes and seven seconds, more than eight minutes behind gold medallist Yuichi Hosoda, of Japan.
In the women's final, Leann Szeto Shiu-yan also came in eighth in 2:10:15, almost nine minutes behind Japanese winner Juri Ide.
Hong Kong manager Erik Chan Kit-bun praised the efforts of teenager Wong, saying: "He is only 18 and he was competing against some world-class athletes including the Japanese who won the gold, who is 10 years his senior and much more experienced. Considering all this, it was a good result."
Ivan Lo Ching-hin, Perry Wong and women's duo Joyce Cheung Ting-yan and Hilda Choi Yan-yin will today contest the mixed relay being held for the first time at the Asian Games.
