Hong Kong's Stephanie Au wins swimming silver at World University Games

Stephaine Au Hoi-shun won the first medal for Hong Kong at the World University Games on Thursday night after the swimmer finished second in the women's 50 metre backstroke final in Gwangju, South Korea.

Holly Barratt, of Australia, won the race in 28.04 seconds while Au and South Korean Yu Hyoun-ji clocked 28.38 seconds for joint second place. Au's time was faster than her 28.66 seconds in the semi-finals, although it was just outside her Hong Kong record of 28.33 seconds.

Before leaving for Gwangju, the 23-year-old said the Games would be like a big graduation trip for many of her teammates who had been representing Hong Kong for several years.

"I didn't do it very well in the previous 100 metre and 200 metre backstrokes and a silver medal in the last individual event came as bit of a surprise," said Au, who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, last year. "I hope the result can boost my confidence in the World Championships which start in two weeks as this will be my major target of the year."

It was the second time a Hong Kong swimmer claimed a podium finish in the World University Games after Hannah Wilson, also a graduate of Berkeley, clinched two gold medals in Belgrade, Serbia in 2009.

Au also reached the 200 metre backstroke semi-finals with a final ranking of 11th but failed to make it in the 100 metre backstroke, finishing in a 17th position. She has already reached the Olympic B qualifying standard for the Rio Games in both events.

She still has 4x100m medley relay on Friday morning with Hong Kong facing heavyweights the USA, Germany and Australia in heat three.

Au's silver medal has placed Hong Kong in joint 40th place in the medal standings in Gwangju, along with Burkina Faso, Croatia and Slovenia.