Hong Kong’s Ching Siu-nga holds on to Olympic dream after proving she is good enough
Race walker’s Olympic dream hangs in the balance despite making the qualifying standard in a club-level race in the United States on Sunday
Race walker Ching Siu-nga’s Olympic dream is still hanging in the balance despite making the qualifying standard in a club-level race in the United States on Sunday.
There are many requirements for an official walking race and it seems Ching still has to work hard before reaching the qualifying standard
The 29-year-old, a master programme student at Lindenwood University in Missouri, completed the race in one hour, 35 minutes and 38 seconds, well inside the Rio Games qualifying mark 1.36.00 but the record may not be recognised for Olympic qualification.
“We are still trying to get more details of the race, which is organised by a club and not an event on the IAAF recognised list,” said Amateur Athletic Association vice chairman Simon Yeung Sai-mo.
“There are many requirements for an official walking race and it seems Ching still has to work hard before reaching the qualifying standard.”
Yeung said the association’s competition committee would also study if the latest result would be recognised as a Hong Kong record.
Ching is the current record holder with the 1:36:59 time she set in the Asian Championship in Japan last month. Ching said after the race she was confident of cutting that record by 59 seconds.
“There are still a couple of more months before the Olympic qualification closes in mid July and Ching has already targeted on two races in Europe next month to try to make it,” said Yeung. “If she has finished with such a great time in the US, we are confident she can eventually complete her Olympic dream.”
Ching will start in the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Rome on May 7 before taking part in another race in Germany.
