Hong Kong high jump star Cecilia Yeung has to settle for silver at Asian Championships

Asian Athletics Championships debutant Cecilia Yeung Man-wai had to settle with a silver medal after struggling with the rain at the event in Bhubaneswar, India, on Friday.

The high jumper cleared 1.75 metres and 1.8 metres but could not improve in a wet evening at Kalinga Stadium, finishing behind Nadiya Dusanova of Uzbekistan after three failed attempts at 1.84 metres.

“The race was interrupted by rain and thunder shortly after it had started and obviously the poor condition has affected her performance and also other athletes,” said her coach Wan Tat-yung.

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“But already it’s a good result as this was the first time she took part in a big event and returned with a medal.

“For Yeung, it’s not only a learning opportunity but also a big encouragement to her career so that she can become stronger and pursue more international honours in future.”

Dusanova was the only athlete who cleared 1.84 metres with Wang Xueyi and Kiu Jingyi, both of China, tied with Yeung for silver. Thailand’s Wanida Boonwan was third.

Most of these jumpers also competed at the Asian Grand Prix in Taipei in late April when the 22-year-old Yeung smashed her own Hong Kong record with 1.88 metres to lift gold.

It was the first medal for Hong Kong at the regional championships after the first two days.

In the men’s 100 metres, Ng Ka-fung came third in his semi-final with 10.50 seconds, far off his seasonal best 10.31 seconds while Hong Kong record holder Tsui Chi-ho managed 10.91 seconds as both failed to reach the final.

Chan Ka-chun was ninth overall in the men’s 400 metre hurdles heats with a time of 51.60 seconds and just missed the final.