I’ll turn to the United States if Hong Kong keeps crushing my dreams, says outraged powerlifter Daniella Means
The 28-year-old holds the Asian title but the governing body says she can’t compete on the world stage because it lacks the resources
Asian powerlifting champion Daniella Means has had her hopes of representing Hong Kong on the world stage crushed by a “backwards” organisation that has left her considering leaving for the United States.
On winning her category at the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships in India three months ago, the Hong Kong Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association told the 28-year-old she could compete at the World Classic Powerlifting Championships in June, a decision Means said it had now reneged on.
“What this brings to light is just how backwards and bureaucratic it is,” said Means, who has also represented Hong Kong at rugby sevens. “It really angers me and I have come to the point where I have possibly taken powerlifting as far as I can go in Hong Kong.
“I’m a Hong Kong passport holder, born and raised in Hong Kong, so representing my country really does mean a lot to me and I would love that country to continue to be Hong Kong.
“The only choice this leaves me with is to potentially try to represent the US because I’m also a US passport holder.”
Means, who competes in the under-63kg category and holds a host of Hong Kong records, has started a petition to get the decision overturned and holds out some hope she can successfully plead her case by the April 6 nomination deadline.