Cheng Kwok-fai and Hayley Chan ride the crest of a wave with gold medals
Hong Kong windsurfers secure two gold medals with Hayley a perfect 10 out of 10, giving the local team their best Asian Games result yet
A victory dinner with his family topped Cheng Kwok-fai's priorities after he secured one of two windsurfing gold medals for Hong Kong on Saturday.
The veteran took an unassailable lead over a fleet of seven in the men's mistral with two races left to claim his first major Games success after more than a decade of trying. He won eight out of 10 races, with two second-place finishes, leaving his nearest challenger, Natthaphong Phonoppharat of Thailand, no hope of catching him.
Teammate Hayley Chan Hei-man clinched the women's RS:X title, also with two races left. The silver medallist at the Guangzhou Games four years ago scored a perfect 10 wins out of 10, leaving no room for mainland rival Sun Jiali to improve on second place.
Training and preparing for this competition has meant I have not enjoyed a meal with my family for more than six months
"Training and preparing for this competition has meant I have not enjoyed a meal with my family for more than six months," said Cheng as he wiped away tears of joy.
"I have been in the sport for 14 years and without the support of my family, I don't think I could have hung in there for so long. I wouldn't have been standing here without their support.
"Over the years, I have had people jeer at me, saying I would never succeed. I just kept my focus and it has eventually made me an Asian Games champion."
Cheng, who turns 31 next month, said his next target would be challenging for a qualification berth for Hong Kong for the 2016 Olympic Games by shifting back to the RS:X class.