Safe bet: Ng Ka-long almost certain to make it to Rio but teammates must battle on
In-form shuttler is likely to represent Hong Kong at the Rio Olympics after reaching a career high world ranking of 12 following his victory over world number one Chen Long last week
Promising shuttler Angus Ng Ka-long is all but certain of booking his place in the Rio Olympics but it isn’t so clear cut for his Hong Kong teammates.
Ng should have little problem making it after some fine performances in the closing stages of the qualification but we are worried with the other two shuttlers’ ranking
Ng hit a career high world ranking of 12 in men’s singles after reaching the Singapore Open semi-finals last week, which saw the 21-year-old defeat world number one Chen Long in the quarter-finals. Ng overcame the mainlander, one of the favourites for gold in men’s singles in Rio, in straight games, before losing to South Korea’s Son Wan-ho in the last four.
With just one tournament left for Olympic qualifying, Ng is unlikely to lose his spot.
But while Ng can begin preparations for the Summer Games happy in the knowledge that his Olympic spot is safe, his fellow teammates are struggling to get a second available ticket for Hong Kong.
Veteran Hu Yun dropped four places to 15 while Wei Nan is on 17th place. A team can send two shuttlers to Rio as long as they are both ranked in the world’s top 16.
“Ng should have little problem making it after some fine performances in the closing stages of the qualification but we are worried with the other two shuttlers’ ranking and whether they can qualify in the top 16,” said head coach Tim He Yiming on Thursday. “They must perform in the Asia Championships and also need to see how other shuttlers fare as well.”