Switch to time trial rewards Jamie Wong with a bronze
Coach's suggestion to change disciplines proves the right move for HK rider, who grabs bronze
Cyclist Jamie Wong Wan-yiu made up for her loss in the team pursuit when she clinched a bronze medal in the women's individual time trial on Saturday.
The 27-year-old finished the 28km race on the Songdo road course in 38 minutes and 57.65 seconds, behind winner Na Ah-reum of South Korea (37:54.43) and Li Wenjuan of China (38:46.26).
I was struggling a bit after knowing the Incheon Games would have no points race, but our coach helped me switch to the time trial. It worked well
"We have a very good four-member squad in the team pursuit but, unfortunately, two of them were ineligible for the Incheon Games," she said. "I feel pretty sorry for my teammates and hope they can share my joy in winning this medal."
The pursuit team managed a fifth place in Incheon after Wong and her teammate Diao Xiaajuan collided early in their first-round race.
Wong finished second in the points race at the Guangzhou Games four years ago, but since the discipline is not on the Olympic programme, it was dropped from the Incheon Games.
"I was struggling a bit after knowing the Incheon Games would have no points race, but our coach helped me switch to the time trial. It worked well," she said. In the men's individual time trial over 42km, Cheung King-lok finished a disappointing 11th. Cheung, who won a bronze medal in the omnium on the track, will compete in his last race in Incheon today in the 182km road race, an event which was won three times by his former teammate Wong Kam-po, including the Guangzhou Games.
In badminton, Wei Nan reached the semi-finals in the men's singles after defeating Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan 2-1, guaranteeing Hong Kong a bronze medal. Wei will meet second seed Chen Long of China for a place in the final today and Hong Kong coach Tim He Yiming has urged his charge to put up a fight against the world number two.